i?9



Dictation of Life in Captivity.



DURATION OF LIFE IN CAPTIVITY.


By Dr. A. G. Butler.


Although I published an article on this subject in the

April number of our Magazine for last year, I think it is of

importance to continue the record, in order that whenever a

complete paper on the longevity of captive birds is prepared

at a later date, the full period for which the various species have

been kept in health may be known.


In my former paper I mentioned various species in my

collection which were still living when I wrote it; some of these

have since died, but others are still living and likely to continue

alive, so far as I can see, and each extra year passed in cage or

aviary is of importance in a record of this nature.


Grey-winged Blackbird: still in good health, nearly

nine years.


My Sharia is still living, having been over seven years in

my possession.


South African Mountain Chat. Presented April 1908:

the female is still living after nearly three years.


Chinese Bulbul purchased June 1S99 and still in good

health : eleven yeais and nine months in my possession. I

somehow confounded its probable age with the time I had owned

it in my previous note.


Archbishop Tanager. Presented end of 1903 and still

in vigorous health : over seven years.


Scarlet Tanager : Two males purchased in 1S97, both

living and well : fourteen years.


Ciiingolo Song - Sparrow. One sent to me by Mr.

Teschemaker in 1907 still living: over three years.


Tropical Seed-finch. One presented in November 1907

still living: over three years


Fire-red Finch. One presented in November 1907 still

living : over three years.


Black-headed Lined Finch. Presented November 1907,

died June 4th, 1910. As it was singing the day before, it was

probably killed by the Tropical Seed-finch : two and a half

years.



