Correspondence. 159 



King Parrakeets. She lays annually, but all her eg-gs so far hav^e 

 proved infertiLe. : : » 



I lost my last Blue Robin recently, a lovely bird, which was 

 bred here some years ago. 



I note that Zosterops are not imported now, this is regret- 

 able as they are such taking birds, I had one which lived' here 

 at least seven years, and spent one winter in an unheated aviary 

 out of doors. 



I wish some of our members would say what pairs pf 

 interesting, hardy birds could be kept with Parrakeets. Do Glossy 

 Starlings steal other birds' eggs ? 



Have the Orange-breasted Thrushes been bred ? I have a 

 good acclimatized cock. 



(Hon.) MARY C. HAWKE. 

 Wighill Park, 



Tadcaster, May 8th, 1911.' 



[It would be of great practical interest if members would 

 give details of series of birds they keep together in one aviary: 

 such details silould include size, and arrangements (furnishings, 

 etc) of aviary. 



1 do not recognise the species from the trivial name Orange - 

 breasted Thrushes, but your bird is probably either the Orange- 

 headed or White-throated Ground Thrush. Neither have been bred 

 in captivity. — Ed.] 



WINTERING BIRDS OUT Of DOORS 

 Sir, — I thought that a short account of how my birds have 

 stood the winter in out-door aviaries, might be of some interest. 



No. 1 Aviary: This is open to the south — Black-faced Love- 

 birds, Californian Quails, and Bronze-necked Doves have wintered 

 safely. The B.F. Lovebirds nested all winter but, eggs proved 

 infertile — have had twenty-one eggs from one pair since October* 

 No. 2 Aviary: Here the shelter window was open in the 

 daytime only — Violet Doves, and Budgerigars have wintered safely. 

 No. 3 Aviary: Here, Rosella Parrakeets, Diamond Doves, 

 Black-headed, White-headed, and Tri-coloured Mannikins, Cutthroats, 

 Bengalese, Zebra Finches, and Silverbills, have stood the winter 

 well. I lost the hen Diamond Dove and one or two Finches, 

 from egg-binding, presumably. The window of shelter was open 

 during day-light only. 



No. 4 aviary: The shelter is open to the south, and the 

 window was open during daylight. Here: Roseate Cockatoos, Mous- 

 tache, and Ring-neck Parrakeets; Cockatiels ; Aurita, Diamond, Peace- 

 ful, and Zebra Doves; Red -crested Cardinals; Saffron Finches; 

 Java Sparrows, and Californian Quail, all wintered without casu- 

 alty. The Cockatoos nested outside in the most awful weather; 

 the other birds had shelter from rain only. 



*See dieiscription of aviaries in February issue of current 

 volume. — Ed. 



