Correspondence.



209



CORRESPONDENCE.



INDIAN PARRAKEETS.


Sir, —In reference to Mr. Ezra's lutino Indian Parrakeets, it may be of

interest to call attention to the fact that such rarities were known to and described

by some of the earlier writers. Latham’s “ Jonquil Parrakeet ” was a yellow

Blossomhead (P. cyanocephalus), while Shaw, under the name of “ Sulphur Parra¬

keet,” described a similar variety of the Rose-ringed Parrakeet (P. torquata).


The “ Blue-headed Parrakeet” (Edwards) and “ Azure-headed Parrakeet”

(Latham) referred to the same bird, a partial lutino Blossomhead, that is, one with

yellow spots on the wings.


Mr. Brook, I also see, has a yellow Amazon in his collection. I have seen,

especially at the Canary Islands, many Amazons nearly all yellow, but of course

without pink eyes or other lutino attributes. The yellow extends over more or less

of the body, with the proper green showing in an irregular patch here and there.

These I have always understood were fakes, the result of rubbing some kind of

juice into the body of the young bird. Is that the case ?


South Bank, Gambia. E. Hopkinson.



CAPACITY IN NEST-CONSTRUCTION.


Dear Sir, —In Dr. Butler’s interesting article on ‘ Capacity in Nest-Con¬

struction ” he states that with the Ploccine Weavers the male is unable to finish

the nest without the assistance of the hen. This is certainly not the case with

those of the Hyphantornine group, as with all those that I have kept, including

cucullatus, abbysinnicus, olivaceus, velatus, and others, the male is able to weave

a very perfect nest, without any assistance from the hen whatever. In fact, in my

experience, it is only very rarely that the females take any interest in the nest until

they are about ready to lay. In some cases they line the nest with a few feathers

but quite as frequently accept it just as it is. Some of these nests are most enduring-

I remember one, built by my large wbite-eyed Olivaceous Weaver—now alas ! no

more—that hung from the unsheltered roof of the aviary for over eighteen months,

and when it at last collapsed it was still quite waterproof. Most of my Weavers of

this type build duplicate nests, which they use for sleeping in at night, and I don’t

think that there is any doubt but that they are built for this purpose.


With reference to Mrs. Lee’s mousetrap, I would warn your readers that the

1 in. holes in the box covering the breakback traps are two large. Small birds,

like Zebra Finches could easily find their way in, and would quickly share the fate

of Miss Alderson’s pet robin. In other respects the plan is a good one, and one

that I have used for several years. l’ours etc.,


Boyers Home, Westbury. Wili.iam Shore Baily.



Sir, — I note Mr. Shore Baily’s letter in this’ number (vide supra) and

it only shows how important it is for none of us to be too dogmatic. In the

case of Ploceus I had males of both P. baya and P. many ah, but no females: a



