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be a case of scrofulous disease, to which these birds are subject. However,

dressing the sore places with glycerine of boric acid, to be obtained from any

chemist, might do good. It would, at any rate, be worth a trial ; but, if

that fails, there is nothing else that I know of likely to improve its

condition. Give the bird as much insect food (insects) as possible.


- W. T. Greene.


SEEDS IN ITALY.


Sir, — I think I have always been under the false impression that

canary-seed was what we call punico and which, from the samples, I find you

call Indian millet. Is alpiste then canary-seed or is it inga ? Iwillsendyou

samples of my seeds, so that you may tell me if you think me right. I can get

the spray millet, for I have it sown, and when ripe I have it gathered and

kept in the ear. Last year I had much trouble in getting it, and they

brought it to me before it was ripe. I also got white millet in the ear.


The Gouldians, Masked Finches, and others seem to prefer the alpiste

seed to others, but I don’t know whether it is good for them. Sometimes

I give a sprinkling of turnip seed and chicory seed, when I can get it, also

lettuce seed; but in the spring and summer I give bundles of different

grasses in the ear, and they love to pick out the seeds. The Cockatiels

and Budgerigars love oats in the ear, and dandelions and chicory. I

have learnt to know what grasses they like from a little Rose-breasted

Cockatoo, who walks out with me and shows me what he wants.


G. Tommasi Baedeeei.



The following reply was sent to the Contessa Tommasi Baldelli:


Panico is, as you say, Indian millet. Alpiste is canary-seed; but a

very poor sample. The best Spanish canary has about double the bulk of

your seed.


The sample of spray millet which you send is, I presume, that which

you speak of as taken before it was ripe ? It is not only of a very sickly

hue, but many of the seeds seem shrivelled up : the sample of white millet

(Miglio ), in the ear, looks better : I have grown similar panicles of millet-

seed in my own garden.


The only Gouldian finch which I still have alive, of eight bought in

1896, eats both canary and white millet indiscriminately ; but it will always

leave both for spray millet.


Lettuce, dandelion, and the various grass-seeds are excellent as a

change; but I am doubtful about chicory and turnip-seed : the latter I

consider decidedly bad.


I do not know what Motea is : in form it is not unlike Sesamum ; but

the latter is yellowish ; never blackish, I think. A. G. ButeER.



PARRAKEETS [Palceornis) and NIGHTINGALES.


Sir, — W ill you kindly oblige me with the trivial names and habitat of

the following: — (1) Palceornis fasciatus ; (2) P. magnirostris ; (3) P. schisticeps ;

(4) columboides ; (5) P. longicauda ; (6) Danlias golzi.



