234 Correspondence . 



For many years I have had a pair of these birds in 

 the trees around my homj, but this year they are absent. I 

 have always found it very difficult to observe them, as they 

 seem to like to keep the body of the tree between them and 

 the observer. In the aviary it is different as one or the other 

 nearly always on view, and very pretty they look walking- 

 down the tree stems head downwards, or darting across the 

 aviary with their Kingfisher-like flight. I do not think there 

 is a hole or corner which they have not explored. I notice 

 that they are storing nuts and sunflower seeds in some of the 

 coco-nut husks, put up for the other birds to nest in. One or 

 two other Britishers I have had enter the aviary of their own 

 free will. A Common Wren has occupied a series of five 

 aviaries since last March. It easily finds its way from aviary 

 to aviary, but cannot find its way out. This morning a King- 

 fisher was fishing in the pond of the Waders' aviary; a 

 beautiful and handsome visitor. 



Correspondence. 



TRYIxXG FOR BLUE BUDGERIGARS 

 Sir, — 1 have much enjoyed the article " History of the Budgerigar," 

 by Dr. Hopkiiison, and I enclose several letters from which you may care to 

 take a few extracts. [These letters have a distinct bearing on former 

 communicationi to " Bird Notes," viz. : 1913, page 30, and 1914, page 62. 

 Ed.]. Mr. Pulsford is the "Devon Aviculturist " referred to by Dr. 

 Hopkinson on page 203 of our last issue. The two pairs referred to 

 in the following letter, brothers and sisters to my birds, were bred : 



Blue Cock Green Hen 



I 

 Same lilue Cock - it leen Hen. Green Cock— \ellow Hen 



1 ! 



Green L'ock Green Hen 



2 Cocks and 3 Hens all green. 

 " My luck with the Green Budgerigars bred from Blues has been rather 

 " bad. I had two pairs (brothers and sisters to yours), also one cock 

 " bred from Blue cock and Yellow hen ; one of the hens was killed by an 

 " Adelaide Parrakeet, leaving me with a pair and two odd cocks. The 

 " pair bred, one very rough and' cold January, three Blues, two all 

 " right and one deformed ; the deformed one soon died, and another got 

 " between a box .ind the v.-^.M and died there as it could not extricate 

 " itself, the survivor was :i .':uw bird, and a lovely colour, but it stayed 

 " put one cold, wet night, ought pneumonia and succumbed thereto. The 



