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SEXING BIRDS.


Sir, — Without pretending that the method I am about to describe of

determining the sex of a given bird is infallible, I believe that, as a general

rule, it does obtain, the exception being young subjects of the year.


I have had a good deal of experience in handling birds, more often

dead than living ones, and I find that if the bird is placed on the left palm

with its head away from the observer, the feathers on the breast will, if the

bird is a female, part readily, leaving a bare space, varying in width, with

the breast-bone for its centre ; if, on the contrary, the bird is a male, the

feathers will not divide in the same even manner, but will be found growing,

more or less closely, over the whole surface, even over the edge, or margin,

of the breast-bone, or keel.


I shall be glad if other aviculturists will make observations in this

direction for themselves, and either confirm or disprove my theory.


W. T. Greene.



GOLDEN PHEASANTS WITH QUAILS.


Sir, — I see in the May issue of the Avicultural Magazine a correspondent

asks, if it would be safe to keep Golden Pheasants with Quails and other

small birds ? I have done so for over five years and have never had a little

bird injured in any way except by accident ; and that was when some

young Chinese Painted Quails were newly hatched off, and two were trodden

on. The Pheasants never attacked the smaller birds, and I have had various

cocks.


Want of space necessitated my putting one pair of Quails into the

Pheasant aviary for about eight months, otherwise I should not have done

so, as the Pheasants disturb them too much by walking about, and over

their nest, and it was difficult to protect it properly.


My aviaries are only 21 feet long by 9 feet wide; probably in your

correspondent’s aviaries, which are 57 feet long, the Quails would be

perfectly right.


I have kept Golden Pheasants for eight years, and never had a bad

tempered cock yet, although I cannot make them quite as tame and

confidential as the hens. A. H. Brooksbank.



IDENTIFICATION OF BIRDS.


Sir, — I send you the following descriptions of birds I saw on April

24th and Maj' 4th, hoping that you may be able to identify them : —


No. 1 : Larger than a Sparrow ; under parts, neck and upper part of

back light buff; wings and rump dark fawn ; cheeks reddish brown ; head

dark ; a dark bar down the back ; beak rather long.


No. 2: Variegated brown on wings; head dark ; yellowish stripe

over eyes ; ditto patch on head ; size scarcely larger than a Wren ; longisli

tail; dark cheeks.


No. 3 : (May 4th). Size and shape nearly the same as No. 2; beak



