322



Miscellaneous Notes from Brinsop Court.



The male orange-headed bullfinch, from the Himalayas, is


delightfully tame in a large aviary. He is really named “ red-headed,'’


but the colour is not the least red, even in the wild birds—at the


best, it is a good orange.


****


The one Australian blue wren that I have had since July,


1914, has just partly come into colour, it being the approach of Spring


time in this lovely little bird’s native land. My bird is in perfect


condition, and very sprightly with his long tail cocked up ; but he is


always of a timid nature. He has a tiny song, somewhat resembling


that of a golden-crested wren.


* 4 * «


My ten flamingos are looking very fine now, after their moult,

which began, I think, earlier this summer. Of the two red Mexican

flamingos, the female always remains pale in colour.


I find they are very fond of soaked dog biscuit, two or three


of which I put in water over night.


* * * *


The cotton teal, the males of which little company were

beautiful during April, May and June; have gone into the eclipse

plumage.


♦ * * *


The Motmot, who figured in a coloured plate in the magazine,

is moulting for the third time since I have had him. A most omniv¬

orous bird as to food, a cut up sparrow, chopped lettuce and sow


thistle, fruit of any kind, cheese or cake, etc. ; all are welcomed.


** ♦ * *


He escaped from his cage one day, when it was in the garden,

but he flew straight into the loggia and from there, into the dining

parlour.


* * * •


I have been greatly tempted to let him loose again ! I don’t


think he would go far.


* * « *


The loud croaking of the pink crested touracos on warm days


sounds very tropical.


I have had to try and make them do without fruit, and they

have taken to boiled rice mixed with 1 suttoo,’ which is a kind of pea-

meal from India. They lived on apples, for the most part, from


September to May.


♦ * * *


There is always war! “Big fleas have little fleas, etc.”



