18



Correspondence



later on the same birds assume normal plumage at the next moulting.

I noticed the same among the Crimson and Napoleon Weavers in

winter dress ; they were black instead of grey.—Yours very sincerely,


Delacour.



HYBRID CONURES


Dear Dr. Graham Renshaw, —I expect the Conures in your

correspondent’s possession are hybrids. A large number of hybrid

Conures of Patagonian extraction were offered for sale some months

ago on the disposal of a private collection. I should think their

pedigree has been lost, if it was ever known.—Yours sincerely,


Tavistock.



PATAGONIAN CONURES AND RED-BILLED

WEAVERS


Dear Dr. Renshaw, — I think that my large Conures must be

C. byroni, and that the description in Mr. Seth-Smith’s book must be

taken from hybrids between this bird and the smaller kind. I have not

the least doubt but that the two varieties would interbreed freely,

as my bird is very friendly with one of the smaller ones, and I should

not be surprised to see them go to nest this spring. The difference in

their appearance when they are side by side is striking ; it is quite

as great as it is between the Mealy and Red Rosellas. I am afraid

that my other specimen is never going to be much good. He is getting

barer of feathers on the neck, throat, and wing coverts than ever.

I don’t know whether he is plucking himself or whether it is some form

of disease, but one would think that he would have some difficulty

in plucking his own throat.


With regard to the Weavers, I hardly think that the colour of

the bill has anything to do with sex. The three yellow-billed black

specimens have now moulted out into their natural colour, but their

beaks are now red. I shall be interested to see if these birds return

to their abnormal colour at their next moult.—Truly yours,


Wm. Shore-Baily.



