246



tones, each of which is louder than the previous one. They are

rather noisy, and, for those not accustomed to them, they are very

aggravating. When I find either of my birds off its feed, and

quieter than usual, I give it, instead of the daily grasshoppers,

two live cockroaches, which seem to act as a tonic. Once a week

I give them a douche with a garden syringe ; this they appear to

enjoy, as they move their wings so as to receive the water. Both

my birds are cocks, and I have never seen a hen ; since they are

not as beautiful as the cocks they would not find a ready sale.

The “ Osprey’’-like feathers are valuable ; and, as my cages are

kept scrupulously clean, they are collected in perfect condition,

and given to my lady friends. I have been able to tell } r ou so

much of these birds as they are in my room, where I have many

opportunities of watching them. I hope this account that I have

given will interest some of your readers ; I have never attempted

to write before for any magazine an account of my different pets.


[We thank Mr. Ezra very much indeed for his useful contribution to

our pages.—R. P.]



THE BLUE WREN.


Malums cyaliens.


By Reginald Phillipps.


This morning, July 26, I was paying a stealthy visit to the

food-corner of my reserved aviary, and was trying to localize

certain baby voices which recently have been rather pronounced,

and which, as I supposed, came only from Bicheno’s and Ringed

Finches, when my eye lighted on a long thin cane, fixed

horizontally high up in the aviary, on which was glued, in the

sun and quite in the open, a tiny mite of a very light brown

colour. It was being assiduously attended to by a pair of Blue

Wrens, one on either and always on the same side, who every

few seconds disappeared and returned with some invisible

speck, which it popped into the open mouth of the youngster, this

mouth turning to one side or the other as either parent

approached. The female was the principal feeder, the male being-

more disposed to act as guard, for not for a moment was the baby

left unprotected. The parents, by the way, have always been

much persecuted by the Bichenos.


The young bird was a very fair reproduction of the

mother, with a shorter but by no means short tail. It was fully

feathered, and seemed in perfect health and condition.


On June 21, I had noticed one of the females feebly



