"THE CAGE BIRD CULT" AND "THE AQUARIUM VENTURE" [To Me

Editor of Me SPECTATOR.] SIR. I have read Mr. 'famish Maelaren's charming article entitled." The Aquarium Venture,'' and with your perrnbasion wish to ask him, with all courtesy, the following questions :-

1. What is the difference between keeping hints and fish in "necessarily circumscribed" confinement Y Fish are fully as active I restless as birds, and presumably have the same longing to use their equally speeialized 'powers. Why does Mr. Maclaren bless tho aquari lllll .* paradise " and condemn the aviary ? 2. Why does he assert that fish which feed from the keeper's hand and suck his lingers feel affection for him, and not allow that birds may equally become fond of those who tend them ? :t. Why should the sight of captive flail be a desirable part of a Clara education, and a visit to an aviary be merely degrading ?

4. Aviaries are as much sanctuaries for birds as aquaria are for fish, and birds enjoy a handful of " paradisal grubs," in their ease usually meal worms. as much as fish do. 11 herein lies the difference ?

5. Is it not an acknowledged fact that cold-blooded creatures normally live longer than the majority of the warm-blooded ? May not this partly account for lower mortality among captive fish ? A carp, for instance, will outlive many generations of robins.

When I kept aviaries my birds would fly to me as soon as I entered ; it did not often take three months to make them as tame as cats." They lived out their full span, mated, and reared young, and certainly enjoyed freedom from danger and anxiety respecting hod. I dislike cages, and would never keep a caged bird without allowing it at least a couple of hours' liberty in a room every day. Neither ant I an advocate for bird shows, as I consider the close confinement and being on view " so long very trying•to birds ; I never exhibited any of urine.

It is, of course, nonsense to say that birds are necessarily happy because they sing. Song is their language, a means of expressing their emotions. A bird will sing to attract atten- tion because it hopes for it tit-bit. or from jealousy, anger, sexua I. excitement • or simply because it" feels good:' Anyone who tends birds soon learns to interpret their notes.

The real test of happiness is breeding. No bird will breed tintless it is healthy and content with its surroundings. For an unmated bird I consider the condition of its plumage the best test. A restless or unhappy bird invariably has frayed tips to its flight feathers : perfect plutnageineans health and happiness. Of course, there are certain birds, such as the

swallow tribe, which are unsuited to any form of captivity ; while robins and tits are so easily domesticated at liberty that I agree it is sheer stupidity to imprison them. I MG, Sir, &c.

Ax 01.n Him) K crania.

Our contributor. to whom we have referred the above letter, writes : Before answering " An Old Bird Keeper's " questions, may I be allowed space to thank hint for the oppor- tunity he has given me to explain one or two points ?

writing " The Aquarium Venture," I was, of c'our'se, unwilling to refer back to an article of my own on a different subject ; could only hope that someone would do it fur me. This has

happened. So here are my answers to " An Ohl Bird Keeper's" questionnaire :

1. One of the chief differences between keeping birds and fish (in this ease) is that while the whole aquarium is designed for the comfort of its inhabitants many of them occupying pools almost as large as those nature had given them- tire whole of the cage bird cult (with a few except ions) is based upon, exists for, and is utterly inalienable from. money. Again. if .

one digs a pond and stocks it with perch. are these perch to be considered captives ? Are they any more captives if the pond

is raised above ground ? Man can make a pool almost identical with natural rock-pools and ponds, in which fish Ike volun- tarily. so long as good food is to be found, but nature never made anything faintly resembling at bird-cage. and never will.

2. " An Old Bird Keeper " is mistaken in thinking that I do not •' allow that birds may become fond of those who tend them." They may indeed. They have little else of which to become fond. • •

:t. I never made any reference to the sight of a " captive fish." 1 have been careful to point out that these aquarium fish are not to be considered " captives'' in the way that birds or beasts are. captive. The educative value of the aquarium lies chiefly in the fact that here are to be seen creatures whose

existence would not otherwise have been even suspected, that is all. 4. See the answer to question 1. I have not suggested (61 captive birds do not enjoy their food.

5. The fact that " cold-blooded creatures normally lice longer than the majority of the warm-blooded (if this is s4,} would, it is true, partly account for the lower mortality amour; fish ; but not altogether. - In the cage bird trade the bird; that die easily out-number those that survive—because UaN. are treated as perishable goods rather titan as liVing creatures also, no aquarium fish has yet been known to refuse food, although again and again captive birds and beasts have died of a self-imposed starvation. Finally, may I remind " An Old Bird Keeper'' that nry article on captive birds was headed " The Cage Bird Cult," all,4 dealt with birds shown in small cages, not with the sort of aviary with which he is obviously familiar ? Does he himscli not say, " I dislike cages . . . neither am I an advocate for bird shows, as I consider the close confinement and being lilt view very trying to birds ? " Very trying, indeed ! If lie can see an essential difference between a caged bird and an aviary bird, does he see none between an aviary bird and an aquarium fish ? Or must I repeat that while nature. never made anything faintly resembling an aviary, these aquarium pools are very mach like those to which fish are accustomed the whole world over ?---IIAmisu nice:tat-N.]