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well to keep the bird under restraint, as these are delicacies which even the

best regulated ‘ Brom ’ cannot resist.”


A specimen of this interesting species has just been presentad to

the Zoological Society by Major C. H. Rowley and is now on view in the

“ Eastern ” Aviary.



CORRESPONDENCE.



DISEASED BEAKS.


Sir, —The Gouldian Finch seems to be rather subject to this affection

which, however, occurs in many other species. The best result is obtained

by scraping off the growth directly it is first noticed—if it has made

much progress, the case is practically hopeless—and then painting the

part with a solution of ten grains of nitrate of silver to one ounce of

distilled water. The application may have to be repeated a second time.


W. T. Greene.



BREEDING EXPERIENCES IN OUTSIDE AVIARY.


Sir, — I think it may interest some of the members of the Society to

hear that I have successfully reared three young Saffron Finches, in an

outside aviary without any heat whatever. My outside aviary has a run of

eight feet by four feet and height 6 feet, with a wooden house at the end, in

which are the nest boxes of different kinds, and seed hoppers and swinging

perches; so that the birds get exercise inside when shut in on account of

the weather; but I find both in snow and rain they are usually outside all

day; during the night they are shut in. They have a good sized enamelled

tin dish of fresh water each day on the ground in which they bathe, all

weathers.


In October, 1899, I stocked it with the following birds, viz., a pair of

Popes; a pair of Cardinals ; a pair of White Java Sparrows (these, in the

Autumn of 1900, laid several sets of eggs, but never sat, and the hen died of

exhaustion); two pairs of Budgerigars; and a pair of Saffron Finches

(which reared three broods last Autumn) all of which are still living and

thriving outside. The first Winter I put a small lamp in the house all day

during the very cold weather, but took it out at night when the birds

were shut up, for fear of fire; but have never required to do this again.

I found the two pairs of Budgerigars did not agree, so I took one pair away.

In January, 1901, I had three young Budgerigars, but, unfortunately, one

very severe night, after a span of warm weather, they were found dead in

the nest. I am expecting a young brood of Budgerigars to be hatched

out soon.


I have also succeeded in rearing some Green Singing Finches in a

large aviary cage that stands in a corridor, where they are seen by everyone,

and they did not mind a bit being looked at.


I have not been successful with Gouldians. The hen has twice been

egg-bound, and another time laid an egg at the bottom of the cage: so,

finding it was of no use, I have taken away the nest and hope for better

luck next Autumn. The cock is in most lovely plumage. I give them

Setaria glanca seed occasionally, which they seem to like very much; but

the}- are difficult birds to cater for. They eat very little, I find ; but have a



