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with some green food in the summer. In the winter I never give raw green

food to the little birds, but plain boiled cabbage. When nesting, a little

plain biscuit and preserved j'oik of egg may be supplied ; and at all times a

taste of soft food may be given to the Pileated Finches. The larger the

place in which your birds live, and the more exercise they can have, the

more liberties may be taken with their food. The dried ants’ eggs are, in

mj- opinion, the cause of deaths innumerable. If your Cordon partook of

them, that alone will be sufficient to account for the apoplexy.


Yes, the Cordons are beautiful little creatures. I always have some

here, and have bred several, children and grandchildren. When once

established, they are easily kept, and will live for many years.


Reginald Phiecipps.



CROWNED PIGEONS.


Sir, — In another mouth or so, I expect to receive a pair of Crowned

Goura Pigeons from New Guinea; and perhaps some member who has kept

the species will give me information about them in the Magazine. How

should they be fed, and how should they be treated ? I particularly want

to know what shelter they require, and if the house ought to be almost

closed, or open on one side, as for Golden and Silver Pheasants.


Octavia Gregory.



[When acclimatized, the Gouras are comparatively hardy, but if

Mrs. Gregory’s arrive in March they should be kept faitly warm until the

spring is somewhat advanced ; and by next winter they should be able to

stand a moderately low temperature. But with birds hailing from hot

countries it is never advisable to let the temperature of their abode fall as

low as freezing point, however hardy they may appear to be. Durin g the

summer months they should occupy an aviary, at least half of which is

open to the elements, and turfed ; the other half being roofed in and sanded

with coarse grit.


As to food, a mixture of small maize, barley, wheat, and peas should

suit them. — E d.]


CHINESE OUAILS.


Sir, — I have noticed no article or mention of the Chinese Painted

Quail during 1901. Will not members who bred them last summer let us

know the result ?


I was unfortunate; my hen laid nine eggs, but would not sit; and I

concluded the nest was too dry and hot.


I have sown wheat and rye grass in a compartment exposed to the

elements this year, hoping they will do better next time.


Both are well and very tame. Grace Ashford.



[Very few of these charming little birds seem to have been bred by

our members last year ; we hear of several failures but few successes.


We have found that ordinary grass is much preferred by the Quails to

wheat or rye-grass, which is too coarse. The nest is usually a hollow

scratched beneath overhanging tufts of grass, and very slightly lined with



