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were equally utisnccessfiil with these birds, because they 

 imagined that as they came from a warm part of Australia, 

 they could not be kept too hot, and so placed them in the full 

 glare of the sun on every available occasion, and lost them 

 all. Afterwards when I had explained that the birds at home 

 inhabited the densest scrub and shunned the direct ra\'s of 

 the sun, more care was taken to make their surroundings more 

 congenial to their natural habits; the birds did better, and 

 several of my correspondents wrote to me chronicling their 

 good fortune iu being able to breed these delightful birds. 



As ever3'body knows, there are two varieties of Gouldian 

 finches, one with a red and another with a black head, and 

 many authorities have constituted them distinct species. That 

 they are merely varieties of one species is proved by their 

 interbreeding and producing a perfectly fertile progeny, 

 mongrels, and not hybrids, which last are barren. 



Possibly if Mr. Farrar will keep his Gouldians out of the 

 sun he will find that they will do better than seems to have 

 hitherto been the case in his aviary. I must, however warn 

 readers not to conclude from the foregoing reuiarks that the 

 Gouldian finch is a hardy bird, for although he dislikes sun- 

 light, he cannot endure cold. W. T. Grkbne. 



IS EGG NEEDFUL ? 



Sir, — Mrs. Askham's experiences, detailed in your July 

 issue, seem to have been very conclusive as to the non-necessity 

 of egg-food. If you will allow me I will recount u\y own. 



In the early part of the season, when the birds first mated, 

 I was very unlucky. One hen died and the rest seemed very 

 disinclined to nest. At this time the birds were lodged in a 

 small room at the top of the house. 



Getting disheartened, I resolved to try the effect of the 

 advice and general treatment as laid down so conclusively in 

 " The Hygiene of Bird-keeping." 



Having replaced the dead hen by another, I removed the 

 cage, which was an ordinary three section breeding cage made 

 of wood, into the garden, placing it upon a table close under a 

 tall hedge facing East, and rigging up contrivances to protect 

 -it from the weather and cats. 



From that time the birds gave no further trouble. There 

 were three pairs, one in each compartment. Each pair laid 

 four eggs. Seven chicks were hatched, three by one pair, four 



