258 * Correspondence. s^ ' 



I have no end of Zt'-ra Finches, too '.nany, I fresh ones appear every 

 day ! 



M^ pair of Cordon AxcWi /lave a nest. 



The Parrot Finches have made a nest in a h^t, and the Gouldian 

 Finches appear to be nesting also, but I fear it is now too late for any 

 successful result. (I^ady) E. SAMUELSON. 



Cobham, 17-9-'! 6. 



Sir," — The young Blue-breasts are doing finely and now I can 

 hardly tell them from their parents. 



The aviary is full of young Ruficaudas, three broods of young 

 birds this season. i 



Cobham, 30-9-'i6. (Lady) E. SAMUELSON. 



NESTING NOTES, 1916. 



Sir,— In answer to your enquiry there were six young Ruficaudas 

 in the last brood, the nest was so full that one got pu'ihed ou; and 

 died; thi;. v*i.s' a pity but I bave so many I did not soem tc mind much. 



I also have young Gouldian Finches in the nest, and greatly hopt^ 

 they will be reared. 



I cannot now distinguish the young Bluc-breastcd Wa.Kbills from 

 their parents. 



A recently acquired pair of lilack-cheeked Wa.xbills are trymg 

 to make a nest, but, of course, it is t<;o late for anything to come of 

 in this year. 



My Melba Finches have taken a strong dislike to the Parrot Finches, 

 ana wUi give them no peace ; I shall -citber have to part witli the 

 Parrot Finches, or put them in another aviary, and must say I do not 

 care for either alternative. 



Cobham, ii-io-'i6. (Lady) E. SAMUELSON. 



DANDELION LEAVES FOR SOFTBILLS. 



Sir, — There is nothing no\cl in mixing chopped dandelion leaves 

 with food for softbills, but in my experience when this is done in the 

 ordinary way, the particles of leaf to a large extent dry up and are not 

 louchctl by the bird. 



I am now trying* a method vvliich seems to get over the difficulty, 

 and may be of interest to some novices of limited experience like my- 

 self. Aftei finely chopping a sufficiency of dandelion leaves I pour over 

 it first enough boiling water to render the mixture to which it is then 

 added, sufificiently moist for use. (The advantage of this method is 

 tha the food contains the leaf as well as the tea, which w.ns soake(i 

 into it and the birds consume every particle). 



I am now treating the dried flies and ants' cocoons, which 1 kecj-) 

 separate from the rest of the softbill mixtur<'i, in \.\:<? same jay as the 

 dandelion leaves, to which they can be added, (i.e., X\\c dandelion loaves, 

 flies and cocoons can all be together in the same receptacle when ihc 

 boiling water is poured over them), as these ingredisn's se;m to me to 

 require more moistening and softening thin the othsr items in the mi.xture 

 and usually do not get enough when the wliolo is moisteao.1 in bulk. 

 Kingstown, 9-io-'i6. G. E LOW. 



