48 



Short Botes, ant) Xetters to the ]£Ditor, 



THE RRD-BILLKD CHOUGH. 



From Mr. vSheridau I have the following interesting 

 account: — 



" Incubation begins in April. I have seen as many as fifty 

 young birds feeding in flocks on the coniuiou by tlie seashore. 

 This bird defies the most daring cragsman, as it builds its nest 

 in the most crumbling parts of the cliffs, two or three feet in 

 the cliffs, surrounded b}' tufts of sea pink. In winter these 

 birds may be seen in pairs, but before nesting they collect in 

 large flocks. The Golden Eagle and the Peregrine Falcon are 

 the most inveterate enemies of the Cliougli. They are very 

 plucky and help each other wlien attacked. I once saw a grand 

 fight between a small flock and a Peregrine Falcon, the latter 

 struck one of them and the others came to the rescue and were 

 giving the Peregrine a good drubbing when a pair of Crows 

 joined in. I wondered what the row was about and sorr\' 

 enough I was, as it gave the Falcon a chance : the combatants 

 being startled at my appearance, he took the opportunity and 

 •carried his victim away to the cliffs in triumph." 



C. Casti^e-Sloa-nk. 



THE PURPLE-CAPPED LORY. 



vSiR, — In answer to Capt. Smithwick : — 



Purple-capped Lories, like all other animals — including 

 man — occasional!}' die in their sleep, but of course are not 

 specially liable to this. When birds die on a perch they are 

 obviously obliged to fall to the ground, but when they sleep 

 or rest hanging to the roof wires of their cage, and die in that 

 position, it is quite possible in some cases for the claws to 

 remain hooked up even after death. The cause of death in this 

 •case is not noted : it is, therefore, impossible to speculate upon 

 the liabilitN' of the bird to the particular disease, whatever it 

 was, of which it died. Tliese birds are much like other birds, 

 •or for that matter like men : some die sooner, some later. 



There is, I believe, no distinctive mark between the .sexes of 

 this Lory, and as regards the imitative faculty of the Parrot tribe, 

 this is not aff"ected by the question of sex but by the individual 

 intelligence of members of either sex. I have had gifted and 

 stupid birds of both sexes. 



I feel a good deal of sympathy with Captain vSmithwick in 

 losing his bird. One which adds to great natural beauty an 

 appreciable amount of aff"ection for man becomes nmch 

 endeared to its owner. W. GEO. Cresweu,. 



