42



year or two. We fanciers here have had to take what we can

get, and often what we do get is what we don’t want. Many of

ns don’t even have the pleasure of a first visit to a London bird

shop—we can get taken in at home.


My Quails have only done badly this season. They made

their first nest out in the open, during that miserable wet

stormy weather we had in July ; the second night after hatching

proved a regular deluge, and, with the exception of one chick,

all were drowned. After rearing the odd chick, the hen nested

again, inside this time; seven eggs were laid, all fertile, though

the young were unable to break out of the shell: want of

moisture, in this instance, proving as destructive as too much in

the first nest.



CORRESPONDENCE.



LONGEVITY OF PARROTS.


Sir,— I saw recently a Grey Parrot which was brought to England

by Sir Malcolm Pasley in i860 or 1861. The bird was then a good talker,

but now it seldom speaks, and shows all the signs of extreme old age. A

cousin of mine saw this Autumn, in Venice, a Macaw, which is said to be

136 years old. One of the ladies who saw the bird, writes : “ The old


servant of Don Carlos, living at Palazzo Balbi, said the bird had belonged

to the grandfather of the Duke.” Don Carlos is called Duke of Madrid,

and his grandfather was Charles IV. of Spain. Charles IV. died in the first

decade of this century, “ If Don Carlos,” the lady adds, “ had his parrot’s

manners and appearance he might be King of Spain.”


Eeeinor J. B. Thompson.


BREEDING RECORD FOR 1900 AT MICKLEFIELD.


Sir,—I enclose list of our doings for 1900:


One Nest of Nonpareils.


,, ,, Indigo Finches.


,, ,, Malabar Mynahs.


,, ,, Barrabands.


,, ,, Turquoisines.


,, ,, Pennants.


EGGS. Spectacle Thrushes, Diamond Sparrows, Green Avadavats,

Cherry Finches, Zebra Waxbills.


Hai.F-GROWN YOUNG OF Rzificaiida TWICE; drowned each time.


C. D. Farrar.



ILLNESS OF RUSSIAN BULLFINCH.


Sir,— You kindly advised me as to the illness of my Russian Bullfinch

in the Summer, from which he has quite recovered and is in very good

plumage, but appears to have something wrong with his legs, as he sits



