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to invent candied yolk of eggs ; but nobody would have it. I suggested to

him to preserve the yolk by simply evaporating the moisture in it at a low

heat, and in a chamber from which the air was exhausted, whereby very

rapid evaporation at a low heat without the alteration of chemical combi¬

nation of substances, resulting from cooking, becomes possible. My friend

acted on the suggestion, and the product entirely answered my expectation

of proving a very useful food for rearing pheasants, bringing up chickens,

and as a food for cage birds. Where the thus-preserved yolk of eggs is

now made, I do not know : the albumen is supplanted by cheaper materials,

although the Chinese offer it at a fraction of the price for which it is made

in Europe, and the Hungarian eggs are sent to London in their shells.


Pray excuse this digression. Aug. F. Wiener.



GOULDIAN FINCHES.


Sir, —Amongst all the suggestions offered for the treatment of the

Gouldian Finch, I never see the use of rock salt recommended. I always

keep my Gouldians," both in cage and aviary, supplied with a lump ; and

frequently splash a little water over it, and the birds quickly descend from

their perches and lick the moistened surface with their tongues.


As to ‘green food,’ my Gouldians eat freely chickweed and shepherd’s

purse (when in seed), also the annual meadow-grass [Poa anna), the tufts of

which may be pulled up by the roots in any ill-kept pathway, at any time

of the year. A little egg-shell, crushed into small bits in the hand and

thrown upon the ground, is also much appreciated. I have great faith in

rock salt, and plenty of lime in the shape of cuttle-bone and egg-shell;

and I never have a case of egg-binding. My birds are all in first-rate

condition and colour, and the young ones invariably acquire the adult

plumage at their first moult. W. H. St. Quintin.



LAVENDER FINCHES.


Sir, — I have pleasure in replying to Mr. Pliillipps’ query in the

Januar}’ Magazine as to the colours of my hen Lavender Finch.


I have never found the colour of the plumage a distinguishing mark

of the sexes. The breeding hen that died was just the same colour as the

cock bird. Many Lavenders, after moulting, assume a much deeper shade

(for a short time) than before—sometimes .the plumage is quite sootj'.


A much surer test is the size and build of the bird. As far as my

experience goes, the cock is always both larger and longer-, the lieu is

invariably smaller and much rounder looking. It is hard to see the

difference if you look at the birds singty. but when together the contrast is

immediately apparent.


Mr. Pliillipps may be interested to hear that my lame Sliama, “ Phil,”

is in lovely plumage. He is very well and cheerful, and just getting into

song. His leg w r as broken so close to the body that it seemed impossible

to bind it; and, as he refused to eat and seemed gradually sinking, we

thought that the only chance of saving him was to have the leg amputated.


I was much interested in Mr. Pliillipps’article on “ Accidents.” If

he would kindly tell us how he bandages the broken limb, and if he uses



