0^0 



Unfortunateh' I ouiiUed to take any detailed notes of the 

 plumage of Mr. Maxwell's beautiful specimen, whose metallic 

 plumage is quite typical of this gorgeousiy arrayed family. 

 Here are a few notes gathered somewhat liaphazard from 

 Jerdon's " Birds of India." Speaking of Leptocoma zeylonica 

 he sa^-s : It may be seen in every garden flitting from flower to 

 flower, it builds a neat nest of grass, vegetable fibres. Spider's 

 web sometimes, with a hole at the side near the top, over- 

 shadowed by a canopy of the same materials; the eggs are 

 usually two in number and of a pale greenish colour with small 

 dusky spots. It feeds on the honey of flowers and the small 

 insects which infest them. Speaking of A. asiatica he states it 

 feeds partly on the nectar of flowers, but a good deal on in- 

 sects, small cicadellge, flies, spiders, &c. 



From Jerdon's notes of the various species it is ver}' clear 

 that flies, and especially spiders with other minute insect life 

 forms a large portion of their dietaiy, and I am rather inclined 

 to doubt if honey alone would insure them a very lengthy life. 

 Jerdon quoting Blyth states that many are taken at Calcutta 

 by bird-lime for sale, and that they can be kept alive for many 

 days on sugar and water, honey or fruit jam. 



jforeiGU BirDs at the X.CB.B. Show. 



One of the best collections of foreign birds seen on the 

 show bench of recent years was gathered together at the 

 Horticultural Hall on December 6th and 7th ult. As the writer 

 judged, no critique will be attempted, also as the matter is now 

 almost ancient history, only a record of results will be given 

 for reference, with a brief concluding notice of the rarer and 

 more uncommon exhibits. The liberal classification provided 

 resulted in a large varied entry, viz., 127. 



BUDGKKIGARS, A. S. OF I.OVKBIRDS AND HANGING PaRKAKEKTS (5): 



I, Mrs K. L. Miller, Blue-wiiiged Lovebirds ; 2, Mrs. C. Cooper, Yellow 

 Budgerigars, very tight and of good colour; 3, 4, F. Howe, nice pair ot 

 Yellow Budgerigars. The most noteworthy exhibit in this class, a nice pair 

 of rare Guiana Lovebirds, was unfortunately robbed of its award (first), by 

 an unfortunate clerical error on the judge's part. The award was given to 

 the Guiana Lovebirds, but was unfortunately placed opposite No. i instead 



