6 4



crushed hemp, which the}- finish in a few minutes. Do you think this is the

reason they are not looking well ? The four hens which are by themselves

are improving. They all seem to have had the first joint of the wing

injured, I should say by being bitten (a Gouldian can bite, as I know by

experience), then the feathers have dropped out. More than once I have

found the joint bleeding, and they cannot fly, and indeed can scarcely hop

up to the perch without great effort, otherwise they are in tight good

feather. Claude D. Rotch.



The following reply has been sent to Mr. Rotch :


I am uot aware that Setaria glauca seed can be bought at such a price

as to be available for bird food. It may be obtainable from seedsmen in

small quantities.


Seven cocks and five lieu Gouldian Finches would require a large¬

sized bird-room. If the proportion of sexes were reversed there would be

less cause for jealous} - and less fighting. All finches that I ever kept fought

more or less during the pairing season, especially when there were more

than one pair of the same species. Cock Gouldian Finches are certainly

very pugnacious. I have heard of them killing their mates, therefore it

would be better not to have more males than females. As a rule the

fighting is harmless, but individuals differ.


The loss of feathers round the beak and on the back of the head, as

well as the injury to the wings, is probably due to fighting. A white cheesy

growth at the corners of the mandibles has never been observed by me on

any finch, and I do not venture to guess at its cause.


In consequence of your letter I offered some hempseed to my

Gouldians, but they would not look at it. I am inclined to think that

hemp would be too heating for these birds and make them more quarrel¬

some.


Whilst your Gouldian Finches are very fond of chickweed, mine will

not touch it. Chickweed late in the year, after having been exposed to

frost, or fog, or much cold rain, should not be given to birds, as it may cause

sickness. Although the fact of your birds being in “tight good feather'’

seems to negative the supposition, the growth you mention might be due

to wet chickweed. In their native country these birds would scarcely get

green food which has been exposed to English Autumn rains and fogs.


I should diminish the number of male birds, and separate the damaged

females until quite recovered on a diet of canary seed and spray millet.


The real cause of and certain remedy for soft eggs and egg-binding

in the case of Gouldian Finches has, I fear, yet to be discovered ; but

if all members of the Avicultural Society will please to publish their

experience in the Magazine, the cause and remedy will scarcely remain

unknown very much longer (g). Aug. F. WiENRR.



(g). Give plenty of liberty, space, proper sand, and cuttle-bone, and separate the

sexes for about half the year (unless you have a specially good winter aviary), and they

will not lay soft eggs nor yet become egg-bound. They require much more exercise, and

in this climate fewer nests, and these only during the warmer mouths. As a rule a female

cannot lay three consecutive clutches with impunity. When separated, with common

sense, they will live as long as you like.—K. P.



