66 Correspondence. 



As lor the Amazon, il i.s a si)lciulid spcciincii, and in peTfccl lu-allli, l)Ut 

 has shown no signs of being a talker. 



I.ast May I put llic Pope Cardinals into a sniaii outdoor avian — in 

 lune T had the misfortune to lose one through enteritis. Luckily I w.is 

 able to secure another from Mr. Rogers, of Liverpool, and there seemed 

 some prospect of a nest being built, as they were so busy carrying various 

 nesting material about, but nothing happened. They have survived the 

 winter, and are very ht, so one has hopes for this season. 



I was now most anxious to make an attempt at breeding some .sj^ecies 

 of parrakeet (my special fancyj in my largest aviary, which was originally 

 built at Cambridge, then taken to Bury, Hunts., and from thence here 

 (Surrey). I wrote to the Marquis of Tavistock for Stanley I'arrakeets, bu< 

 none were for sale just then. 



In the meantime I secured a pair of brotogcrys — one the All (ireen, 

 and the other a White-winged — charming little birds, but very uninteresting 

 in an aviary. 



Much to my delight in June I heard from the Marquis of Tavistock 

 that 1 could have either a breeding pair of Stanleys, or a pair of young 

 Barnards. I chose the Stanleys; they were beautiful birds, and all went we'i 

 for about a fortnight, when, to my horror, one mornuig I was greeted wit!; 

 the news that a rat had eaten the cock bird — my feelings were too acute for 

 words ! It was the first rat I had ever had in an aviary — it was afterwards 

 trapped, and paid the penalty of its crime, which was some small consolation. 

 However, in September last I was able to secure another cock Stanley from 

 the same source, a young one. which is now in adult plumage — the pair now 

 have an outdoor aviary, with shed, covered and open tiights. to themselves, 

 and I await results ! Having only one parrakeet aviary I had to cage the 

 Brotogcrys, which seem admirably adapted to cage-life and quite happv. 



Then, I wanted something to keep with the Pope Cardinals : as their 

 aviary was too large to be sacrificed to one pair of birds. I decided upon a 

 pair of Indian Mynahs — these I got from our lulitor — they were magnificent 

 specimens, and had been out of doors through the winter of 1920. For ;> 

 month or two all went well, then one morning a corpse lay upon the ground — 

 there was no apparent outward cause for the disaster — the post mortem report 

 was cerebral hemorrhage. More ill-luck followed, for about a fortnight 

 later I saw the other Mynah looking very " puffed up " — the next, .alas! b.e 

 ceased to breathe — post mortem report " Congestion of the lungs. The 

 awful weather, cold rain followed by a frost, was too much for it, as it has 

 been for many birds this past winter, owing, I believe, to their havin"- become 

 softened " by the preceding tropical summer. 



My next move was to exchange the Brotogcrys for some of mv 

 favourite Green Budgerigars. These are now living in perfect harmony with 

 the Cardinals, and I propose, as soon as I can come across a suitable pair, 

 adding a pair of Cockateels. 



Now this little account of birds is brouglil up-to-date. For it the 

 h'.ditor's appeal for copy is responsible. 



Thames Ditton, March 9. 1922. MARGARFT RE.AD. 



