i _j_S Correspondence.



two latter I have had caged over three years. What I should like to know

is, would it be wise to try and force it to moult, or let nature have its

way ? ”


David Bentley.


The following reply was sent to Mr. Bentley:


I am not sure that I am the best person to answer your question,

because I never yet had any bird which failed to moult at the proper time.

Possibly this may be due to the fact that most of my birds are under glass,

and are, therefore, not only kept very warm in the moulting season, but are

not subject to any draught.


I should certainly be inclined to induce a moult by keeping the bird

warm (about 60 deg. Fhr. if possible) putting a few drops of syrup of

phosphates daily in the drinking water and a little powdered cuttle-bone in

its soft food.


A. G. BuTEER.



GOULDIANS; PIN-TAILED NONPAREILS; CALIFORNIAN

QUAILS ; BUDGERIGARS.


Sir, —I should be very glad of any hints regarding the treatment of

the smaller delicate birds on first arrival from a journey. I have had quite

a number of Pin-tailed Nonpareils and Gouldian Finches sent me from a

London dealer lately, and have utterly failed with them.


They have had rice in the ear, millet in the ear, ants’ eggs, etc., to

choose from, but have declined from the first. The journey proved too

much for most of them. They have been put in a temperature of 50°

to 55 0 Fahr.


I have a brood of Californian Quails about half-grown ; one of them

is brown all over ; the other four have white or whitish grey 011 the breast

and wings. Is this usual ?


I have had a lot of Budgerigars this year between a yellow cock and

ordinary hen ; the young have all taken after the hen and shew no leanings

towards the cock bird’s colouring.


G. Rice.


Ihe following reply was sent to Captain Rice:


The journey from London to Blairgowrie is a very serious one for

weak unseasoned birds, straight from a dealer’s shop.


The first and most important point is to give them warmth. I fear

that the temperature you mention is not sufficiently high. For unseasoned

specimens of the two species you mention, 65°—70° would not be

a whit too warm.


Gouldians are very simple feeders. Give them common white

millet, millet in the ear, and canary now and then.



