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require any more heat for breeding than other Australian Parrakeets — like

Mauy-colours or Turquoisities ; both of which I have bred without any

heat whatever. If all that Blue Mountains require to breed is heat,\x by did

not Mr. Phillipps give it them ? Had he tried (even with heat) he would

have found, maybe, that they are very shv breeders, as I assert.


C. D. Farrar.


[We do not pretend that a diet of milk-sop is natural to Lorikeets, but

we assert that, being naturally soft-feeders, they require a diet of soft-food

in captivity, and milk-sop is at present the best we know of for them. Dry

seed is entirely foreign to them, and unless given with plenty of fruit is

likely to cause indigestion and fits. — E d.]


[Mr. Farrar misrepresents me. I did not say “Parrakeets” but

“ Lorikeets.” All Lorikeets are Parrakeets, but neither of the Parrakeets

he mentions is a Lorikeet. And I referred to heat in connection with

Lorikeets in general not Blue Mountains in particular.


The reason why I do not do this, that, or a multitude of other things

I have a strong desire to do, is that, unlike Mr. Farrar, my space is limited,

and the brick boundary wall inelastic. Moreover, nearly all my birds but

the tiny Finches have to be shut up from sunset till nearly 9 a.111., because

of my neighbours’ slumbers. My space is so overcrowded that I have to

consider how to keep my birds in health not how to breed them. Never¬

theless, a few perverse birds, like Bicheuos (which were too much even for

Mr. Farrar), will persist in rearing young, in spite of everything that may

be done to discourage them.—R. P.]



BREEDING OF THE RINGED FINCH.


To THE Secretary: Sir, — In connection with your article (Vol.

VIII. p. 119) on the Ringed Finch, it may interest you to know that I

possess two pairs of that small January consignment. One pair has nested,

and we believe the young ones to be about ten days old. The nest is in an

ordinary rush basket hanging on the side of our aviary, which we have in

a conservatory. I suppose this species must have been bred in this

country before ? We have bred the ordinary Bicheno several times, but

never before bred any of these Ringed Finches.


May 10 . Lilian Williams.


[We have received an article from Mrs. Howard Williams on the

successful breeding of Stictoptera antiulosa, in her aviary, which we hope

may be published next month. We believe this to be the first instance of

young of this species being reared in the United Kingdom ; but if any of

our members or readers should know of a previous case, they are requested

to communicate with the Hon. Secretary.


Mrs. Howard Williams lias since written to say that she has now a

brood by the other pair. — R. P.]



