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interesting than to watch the indefatigable work of the old

Cranes as they collected every scrap of insedt food on their way,

while the little chicks kept running with open mouth to have

each morsel dropped in as the old hunter captured it.


If your readers can give me any hints for guidance in the

future that may, I hope, arise, I shall be supremely grateful (£).



THE SOLOMON ISLAND COCKATOO.


By the Rev. C. D. Farrar.


In the July number of the “ Avicultural Magazine” I saw

an advertisement of two Red-eyed Cockatoos for sale. At first I

took no notice ; but about the middle of the month I bethought

me of the Solomon Islanders, and wrote to ask, if still unsold,

whether the owner would kindly let me hear about them. In

reply I received a most courteous letter telling me that the

birds were at least 18 years old ; that for the last nine years

they had been kept in a cage and were consequently in bad feather ;

that they destroyed a bundle of firewood every day; that they

had just laid two eggs (at least the lady had) ; that they had been

given cotton wool to make a nest with, and that either in intense

indignation or utter disgust they had scattered eggs and material

all over the cage bottom ; that one egg had disappeared, and that

the other had been sent to me. It came duly to hand, but was

fractured ; still it showed me the size and shape : it was about

the same size as an ordinary Pigeon’s egg, and rather obtuse in

shape.


The gentleman said that, if I liked to have them, I could,

and might keep them until either they got into form or went to

nest again. In an unthinking moment, I closed with what I

thought a most generous offer. From that day my sorrows

began, and have continued with fair regularity ever since.


Before I tell you what they are like, I will make a

digression. Full of wicked unsanctified pride, I wrote to my

friend Mr. Savage to tell him of my good fortune. His reply

was laconic and to the point. He thought that “ if the hen had

really laid on the bottom of a cage and used a nest of cotton wool,

she ought to be relegated to the animal kingdom of asses ” ! and


(£). A most interesting and valuable experience May I suggest mealworms and

cockroaches? It would be very difficult to obtain a full supply; but they would supple¬

ment the supply of natural food obtainable by the parents; and a few “carcases” might

be hung up, out of which the maggots would fall to the ground.—R. P.


I would suggest au abundance of earthworms and fine raw meat, but I have not had

practical experience.—J. I,. B.



