C orrcsf'oiiclcncc. 67 



LETTUCE AS GREENFOOD FOR BUDGERIGARS. 



SiK, — I do not know whether it will interest readers of " B.N." lo 

 know that mv Biuljjerigars are very fond of French lettuce, whether it is 

 ihev have seen several liritish finches 1 have eating it, and have taken a 

 Hking to it, I do not know, but they certainly do eat, and appear to enjoy it. 

 It seems to me to fill a want in their diet at a season of the year when 

 their natural greenfood. seeding grass, etc., is not procurable. 



A noticeable effect on my Btidgerigars, after having lettuce for a 

 short period, is that they seem much more vigorous, tighter in feather, and 

 arc now " dancing fit." 



Not having read of lettuce being given to Mclopslttaciis undu.'atiis, and 

 having given same from an experimental point of view, I tnought it might 

 interest aviculturists who keep these popular birds. 



Better still, 1 should like the opinion of other members on lettuce 

 as a food for Budgerigars. 



Perhaps our Editor's opinion will be more valued tnan that of a very 

 raw amateur. 



West Hartlepool. March 14. igj2. W.. R. BEARBY. 



r French or frame lettuce is not a new food for Budgerigars. Both a: 

 the press and practice it was advocateu and used in jjre-war times — but il 

 was ccstiy during tne war and fairly so since the armistice, so it has fallen 

 in'o disuse a little. One word of warning concerning it we would repeat, 

 viz : that unless the leaves are very young the central fleshy stem should be 

 removed from each leaf, as budgerigars have died from eating same. Also 

 that some individuals refuse it. Further, the Editor has been giving his 

 budgerigars seeding and flowering grass the whole of this year, as practicallv 

 throughout the year some tufts are to be found containing a few seed and 

 flower heads, and, if dug up with a little soil, and kept in a room, from which 

 frost is excluded, for twenty-four hours it is then quite safe to supply to th<: 

 birds, whatever the weather may be outside. — Ed.] 



" FRENCH MOULT " WITH BUDGERIGARS AND PARRAKEETS. 



Sir, — Mon. Merel's theory in regard to French moult not being due 

 to in-breeding ; would seem to be supported by the fact that it often occurs 

 in young wild-caught Hooded Parrakeets, and more rarely in the case of 

 other species. 



At present I have a young imported Yellow-bellied Parrakeet who is, 

 I fear, going to develoj) into a case of the complaint. He arrived with full 

 wings and tail, but has now moulted all his primaries and long tail-feathers, 

 and shows no sign of renewing them, while he has also ceased producing 

 new body feathers. He remains bright and active and feeds well. 



Strange to say, unknown among wild birds. Red-rump Parrakeets have 

 been temporarily almost wiped out in certain districts of Australia by a perfect 

 epidemic of " French moult," an observer stating that he found the birds 

 running about the ground " like mice," perfectly well, but unable to fly. 

 Havant, March 16, 19J2. (The Marques of) TAVISTOCK. 



Sir, — I was very much interested in your article on Budgerigars in the 



