Correspondence.



7 i



seasons ; and, should one of a pair be killed, the survivor brings

another mate to the old nesting tree. Although the usual

nesting materials are sticks and twigs, some Magpies in the

Longford district built their nests of the wire that the first self-

binding machines used for binding the sheaves of corn. It is

much to be regretted that so many of the farmers in Tasmania

regard the Magpie as one of their enemies, and in some districts

have almost exterminated it. Seeing the birds searching among

the sprouting grain for the grubs which form one of their chief

items of diet, they imagine they are eating the grain itself, and

so wage war upon one of their best friends. The Tasmanian

Magpie makes a most delightful pet, Mr. Littler informs us,

“ though after a time it becomes very mischievous, and delights

in pulling up freshly-set plants.”’ One of these birds used to

watch turnips or onions being thinned out, and then, when it

thought no one was looking, went on with the thinning until not

a plant remained.



CORRESPONDENCE.



HEATING, ETC., FOR AVIARY.


The following reply ?vas sent to ll/r. Mathias in reply to a query:


You cannot do better than carry out your plan of carrying on the

hot water pipes into the proposed aviary.


I have tried all kinds of oil stoves and two forms of gas stoves, and

have found both expensive, dangerous, and most unsatisfactory. I now use

only hot-water pipes and radiators.


If you colour part of the glass, to deaden the sun-heat, I do not

think the roofing-felt will be necessary ; but, it would be well to wire the

inside all over with half-inch netting, A11 open-flight for the summer

months would be a valuable addition.


A. G. Butter.



WHYDAHS NESTING: GOLDFINCH AND GREEN SINGING-

FINCH HYBRIDS.


Sir,—P erhaps the following note may be of interest. Some weeks

ago, my hen Paradise Whydah was noticed to be looking somewhat unwell,

she sat on the floor of the aviary with her head under her wing. The bird

was caged and put into a hot greenhouse. Next morning she was better,



