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A pair of Red-backed Parrakeets (Psephotus hcematonotus) have been

for months frequenting the vacant pieces of ground between the Australian

Wharf and the Victoria Dock. Possibly they roost in the roof of some

adjacent buildings, probably the Gasworks.—(From the Emu , Jan., 1902).



CORRESPONDENCE.



COCKATOOS, CRANES, AND RAILS.


Sir, — I have a Cockatoo, the Great Salmon-crested Moluccan, which

is very fond of fir cones. I am in the habit of giving him two or three

freshly gathered ones daily, which he strips, and eats the seeds. Will they

do him any harm ?


I should be much obliged, too, if you could tell me the cause of my

Demoiselle Crane having plucked out five of her wing feathers (one of which

I enclose for you to see) during the last few months. She is fed almost

entirety on maize, as I find she eats only very little wheat, and will not

touch barley meal. She seems in perfect health and spirits ; but, each

time she has pulled out a feather, the place has bled considerably.


Then I have just bought a South American Rail, and am anxious to

know what kind it is. It has a greenish yellow beak, blue grey breast, red

legs and large feet, and pretty golden brown wings. I keep it with my

Golden and Amherst Pheasants, and feed it with the same mixed corn and

oats. Is this right ? Octavia Gregory.


The following reply was sent to Mrs. Gregory.


One or two fir cones a day will probably not do your Cockatoo any

harm—but watch for any bad symptoms, such as feather-eating, or the half

closing of the eyes. The employment is excellent for it.


The condition of the Crane’s feather which you sent me points to a

heated state of the blood and consequent irritation of the skin. This

indicates something wrong in the feeding. So much maize can hardly be

right.


Lessen the supply of maize, and give bread, biscuit (hard biscuit may

be soaked), peas, worms, slugs, snails, mice, frogs, newts, scraps from the

table, and also vegetable food of some kind. I do not know how you

keep your Crane, but it requires vegetable matter if it has not a good run.

Plant some wheat thickly—and the growing wheat will suit it well.


I take your Rail to be the Ypacaha Rail, Aramides ypacaha, from

Southern Brazil and Argentina.


It should, if possible, be supplied with insects, or something of that

nature, in addition to the corn. Or with some yolk of egg (dried flakes, 01-

hard boiled), if nothing else comes handy. Some tame Rails become very

fond of bread and milk. Reginald Phieeipps.



DISEASED BEAKS.


Sir, — I shall be very much obliged if you can tell me what I can do

for some Gouldian Finches, who are suffering from a white cheesy growth

on their bills; it seems to be infectious, at least it has spread from one bird to



