IOI



Your species is very much tamer than the Golden Oriole

Let it have as much fruit as it will eat, but it requires other things

too. .Give it cockroaches, a little carefully scraped cooked meat, and a very

few mealworms. Keep it comfortably warm. Reginald Phii.LIPPS.



THE WOODLARK AS A CAGE-BIRD.


Sir,—I am thinking of purchasing a Woodlark, but before doing so

I am anxious to know whether you consider it a desirable cage-h\td.


A Skylark I cannot bear to see caged, as it seems for ever dashing

about to get out, and if the Woodlark behaves in the same manner I had

much rather not have one. H. Speed.



1 he following reply was sent to Mr Speed :


A Woodlark makes a delightful cage-bird when it has become tame :

its song is less sustained than that of the Skylark, but is much varied,

liquid, rippling, and bell-like.


I have found Skylarks satisfactory cage-birds. When newly caught

they are nervous, and apt to jump up and bump their heads against the

roof of the cage ; but if the roof is made of canvas, it does not hurt them,

and they get tame very soon : hand-reared birds are better, because the}'

begin tame, and they add the notes of other birds to their song.


Of course you are aware that the Woodlark requires a cage with

perches; for, though it roosts on the ground at night, it is far more arboreal

in its habits than the Skylark. A. G. Butler.



THE SEVERE WEATHER.


Sir, —I was walking tln-ough the village yesterday (Feb. 12th) when

a Sparrow suddenly dropped on the road, and, in trying to rise, fell back¬

wards over its tail, as a Swift will do when it tries to rise from the ground.

It was not until I took it on to my hand that it was able to fly off.


Chas. Cushny.



The folloit'ing reply was sent to Mr Cushny :


It was very curious about the Sparrow. Probably it had some slight

seizure, most likely from the cold, or faintness from want of food or water.

The poor wild birds suffer terribly in a severe winter, and many die. Their

case is very different from that of our own pampered pets; and aviculturists

should succour them also—with water as well as food.


Reginald Phillipps.



It is with much pleasure that we are able to announce that

the Council of the Zoological Society have decided to award its Silver

Medal to our member Mr. E. W. Harper, in consideration of his

numerous gifts of valuable Indian birds.



