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liave found the Parson Finch extremely aggressive. A cock I once had (e)

killed a ribbon Finch and pulled several feathers from the back of a Bar¬

shouldered Dove. Another made itself very objectionable in a community

of Mannikins and Waxbills ; several of which, I believe, were killed by it.

I have never possessed a cock of the Dong-tailed Grass Finch, but should

expect it to show a similar disposition.


You did not state the size of your aviary, but mine were large enough

to render disputes cpiite unnecessary. A. G. Butrer.



WINTERING FOREIGN BIRDS.


Sir,—I have been much interested in the remarks of Mr. Page and

Mr. Phillipps as to the heat birds require in Winter.


Mr. Page’s remarks confirm Mr. Farrar’s experience as to the cold

Avadavats will endure with impunity. They rather confirm what I have

noticed in Parrots—that cold can be endured as long as there are no

draughts.


And vet I find that there is a great difference in Parrots as to suscep¬

tibility to cold; a difference I cannot explain. For instance, Amazons,

Macaws, Cockatoos, Conures, Ringnecks, and Broadtails seem indifferent to

cold ; and Grey Parrots, Dories, Pceocephali, and Caiques to be very suscep¬

tible to it.


I think I have seen it stated that migrants bear cold in aviaries better

than seed-eating residents.


Mr. Buxton, in his experiments at Northrepps, found the dislike of

the Grey Parrot to cold was an advantage to them, as they took shelter,

which the Cockatoos not doing, got their toes frostbitten (f).


It would be very useful if aviculturists would give us their experience

on this point. F. G. Dutton.



TREATMENT OF SMADD FOREIGN BIRDS IN WINTER.


Sir,—I quite agree with Mr. Wiener that artificial light is necessary

for small birds at night in the Winter.


In the beginning of November I found, one morning, in 1113^ outdoor

aviary, a small Green Avadavat lying dead ; it was plump and in perfect

plumage. Since then I have had a paraffin lamp lighted at 4.30, and hung

in a large wire enclosure in the centre of the aviary (in the cottage, of

course). The small birds, which used to look puffy and unhappy in the

mornings when I let them out of doors, now all are in perfect health. I go

down to the aviary frequently after dark and look through the window, and

always find numbers of birds feeding, both large and small. I have lost

none since. The lamp burns itself out during the night.


I shut up the birds at 3.30 p.m., and let them out about 10. a.m. In

the Winter all the food is inside the cottage; also water, which I find is

quite as important during the night as seed. N. J. F. Dunreath.



( e ) It died last spring after about five years’ captivity.


(/ I have found this to be the case with many totally different species. Many

species which sleep in boxes will endure cold which will kill others equally robust, but

who habitually sleep in the open.—R. P.



