7S



interest to, at least, a few members. We are often told that to attempt to

keep such and such a bird in a living room is simply to court disaster, and

this, no doubt, deters many from making the attempt. There are, I am

sure, many lovers of birds who, like myself, are either obliged to keep their

birds in living rooms, or give up aviculture.


I have kept a few foreigners for many years now, and, considering

how the temperature of a room differs during the night and da}’, must say

that I have been fairly successful, having a few years ago won my share of

prizes, which proves that my birds were not in bad condition. Of course,

if one can have a birdroom or aviary so much the better.


My stock at present consists of a Grey Parrot (which is a most clever

talker), pair Diamond Sparrows, Grey Singing Finch, Blue Robin, Shama,

Dliyal, and Virginian Nightingale. The cages of the three soft bills are

cleaned out every morning and the others twice a week, having a plentiful

supply of sea-sand. All these birds, with the exception of the Dliyal, have

been in my possession three and four years, and all appear in perfect health.

They are kept in good sized cages, and some are let out most days for a fly

round, which I consider very beneficial. In the summer, on fine days, I

hang outside as many as I can. The Virginian, which is kept in a room

in which there is never a fire, may be heard singing ou tlie coldest days, and

I have frequently heard him before 3 a.111.


The Shama and Dliyal are most interesting birds; both will fly from

their cages and take mealworms from my hand; the latter will also perch

011 my finger, peck at it, and sing until I give it some dainty : it seems to

know no fear. The soft-bills are fed twice daily on the usual mixtures,

together with one or two mealworms and as many insects as I can collect.

At night, about 10 p.m., all the cages are warmly covered up; and, although

some aviculturists suggest that this is not necessary, I think that birds kept

in a room in which there has been a fire during the day should have some

protection at night.


I should be glad to hear of the experiences of other members who

keep their birds under similar conditions. H. Speed.



GREY PARROTS.


Sik,—I beg to forward a record of a few examinations I have made of

dead Grey Parrots, with a view to determining the sex from the measure¬

ment of the distance separating the two rami of the lower jaw.



DATE OF EXAMINATION.



WIDTH IN INCHES.



SEX.



APPROXIMATE AGE.



30th Nov., 1901



i 3-8ths



female



adult.



10th Dec. ,,



1 2-Sths



male



in 1st moult.



Ditto ,,



1 2-Sths



do.



adult.



13th do. ,,



1 5-16S



female



do.



16th do. ,,



1 1-8th



do.



young adult.



1 Stli do. „



0 i5-i6ths



do.



immature.



21 st do. ,,



1 2-Sths



do.



adult.



23rd do. ,,



1 i-Sth



male



do.



28th do. ,,



1 i-Sth



female



do.



31st do. ,,



1 i-i6th



male



young adult.



iothjan., 1902



1 5-16U1S



female



adult,



stated 4 years old.



