73 



for a number of years I have closely observed the birds during the seasonal 

 ■change, I was not aware the change was so gradual as the condition of this 

 bird's plumage indicated, for there almost every shade of colour, ranging 

 from pale orange to the full rich scarlet of the perfect nuptial garment ; 

 some of the feathers showing the transition from orange to scarlet. To sum 

 up, the conditions of the whole plumage pointed to the fact that in the 

 change from orange to scarlet, the colour first appears at the bases of the 

 feathers, spreading to the tips and deepening in line at the same time. 

 Not having examined a skin at this stage before I was somewhat surprised, 

 as though my observations had fully vindicated the assertions of other 

 aviculturists as to colour growth, yet such observations had not led me to 

 suspect that the fidl rich scarlet was obtained by a gradual change through 

 orange to scarlet. I should be glad of confirmation or otherwise upon this 

 point and venture to hope that members will record their experiences. If 

 members get any losses during this seasonal change I should be extremely 

 obliged if they would send me the bodies. One other fact may be noted, 

 viz. that after the)' have been twelve months in this country the vagaries of 

 English weather do not affect or delay the change to any appreciable 

 extent; while a newly imported specimen, procured in full colour, promptly 

 goes out of colour if cold weather intervenes, and does not assume nuptial 

 plumage till the following year, this has occurred with me on many 

 occasions; while the awful weather of April has neither retarded nor yet 

 diminished the depth of hue of my Madagascars, which are, April 25th, in 

 almost the full glory of Summer dress. 



ME LAN I STIC PEKlN ROBINS. Doubtless many will recollect 

 the specimens of this species, which were splashed with black on the 

 breast, quite a largish number were imported so marked, and they were not 

 confined to one dealer. .Several pairs of them being exhibited at either the 

 Crystal Palace or Horticultural Hall, a season or two ago. If I remember 

 rightly both Mr. Finn and myself described them as melanistic. When 

 viewing Mrs. Warren Vernon's fine collections of birds last summer, I 

 admired a very fine pair of Pekins that were flying in her bird-room. She 



remarked, that is the pair which I exhibited at with black 011 



their breasts, they have now moulted out and no trace of black is left. At 

 intervals the following questions have suggested themselves to me. Was 

 the black really abnormal, or are the young at a given age more or less so 

 marked? Perhaps Messrs. Finn or Harper, both of whom are I believe 

 acquainted with this species in their native haunts, or any other of our 

 members who have experience with the species wild, may be able to 

 throw any light upon this point. At any rate one thing is clear, that if 

 abnormal, the colouring was but temporary, at any rate as regards one 

 pair of birds, for after the moult this pair were richly but normally coloured 

 birds. 



