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for hours on liis feet, disinclined to move and looking unhappy. He does

not take flights nor go to his bath as formerly, though he can fly well and

strongly. Can anything be done to improve this ? I should also be glad to

know how to treat a Green Avadavat ; its head and neck have been bare for

the last six weeks, at least, with no appearance of young feathers, and now I

see that the upper part of its back is in the same condition. All the other

birds (fifteen) are in good feather. I shall be very much obliged for advice

in both these cases. N. M. S. Ward.



The following reply has been sent to Mrs. Ward :


Your Bullfinch is probably^ suffering from a slight touch of cramp :

in such cases a mild purgative, followed by strengthening medicine, is often

useful.


Give it, for one day, five grains of Epsom Salts in its drinking-

water ; and when this has acted effectively, give (instead) six drops daily of

syrup of phosphates in its drink.


Green Avadavats are especially addicted to plucking one another ;

so that, if you have more than one example, it is almost impossible to

prevent unsightliness: these little Waxbills are also somewhat combative,

and lose feathers in their constant skirmishes with other birds.


- A. G. Buteer.


GREENFOOD FOR WAXBILLS, ETC.


Sir, — I should be much obliged if you would let me know if it is

advisable to give Waxbills and African-finches green food and grass seeds ;

if so, what kinds ? I am only just starting to keep a few, and feed them on

millet, canary and spray millet. M. E. Stanyforth.


The following reply has been sent to Mrs. Stanyforth :


When grass is in seed, it is decidedly beneficial to collect a few hand¬

fuls in the fields and give them to Waxbills and any other finches. Also

when chickweed is to be obtained fresh and not frostbitten it is a useful

green food. During the winter a little dry grass-seed, such as the corn-

chandlers supply, makes a welcome change of diet, but it is not absolutely

necessary to the health of the birds. A. G. BuTEER.



IDENTIFICATION OF SMALL BIRD.


Sir, —A small bird has come into my possession ; can you oblige me

with its name ? It is as follows : Size about the same as the Reddish

Finch; head, bluish grey; throat, white, with a sort of half-collar, not

clearly defined ; beak, dark liorn-coloured above, bright-red underneath ;

chest, pearl grey, shading into pale yellow; tail, black; tail-coverts,

vermillion ; legs, black. I am told the bird is African, but should have

thought not. Grace Ashford.



The following reply has been sent to Miss Ashford :


I have no doubt that your bird is Dufresne’s Waxbill, probablv a hen,

as that sex wants the black mask of the cock and has much redder upper

tail-coverts.


Dufresne's Waxbill is a native of South Africa, from the Knysna to

Natal; and from the Transvaal to the Zambesi. A. G. Buteer.



