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Correspondence, Notes, etc.



have been provided with artificial nests lined with linen and cotton wool to

nest in — at least this is the way in this country, and my Canaries were born

in such breeding cages where they had no chance of building for themselves.

But as soon as I turned them loose in my birdroom, well furnished with

bundles of feathers and bushes, they have discarded every artificial structure

and have built nests of grass and hay, lined with feathers and cotton wool,

round open nests of the shape of that of the Chaffinch—Who has taught

them ? No doubt similar facts will occur to many. I have no doubt that

instinct teaches birds to built nests, while I am quite as sure that animals

also possess reason—and it is generally in cases when they act contrary to

instinct that their power of reasoning is shown. Many facts could be

brought to prove this, but I have already taken up too much of your

valuable space. Giueie Tommasi.


A CROSS BETWEEN A MANNIKIN AND A CAPE CANARY.


Dr. Greene sends the following letter from a correspondent.


Sir, —A few years ago I possessed a large Crystal Palace dome

shaped aviary, that could be divided into three partitions. At that time I

kept all kinds of Spice Island birds. Gradually they died off, some flew

away, some fought and were killed. I replaced them by Canaries ; of the

old lot only a pair of Mannikins and a pair of Cape Canaries remained ;

these were of a deep yellow, with deep orange tufts on their heads, hand¬

some birds. The cock bullied the Canaries, so I put the pair into one of

the partitions, also the Mannikins, being quite inoffensive birds. As I

wished the Capes to pair, I put a nest in, and covered the partition with

paper, so that they might be undisturbed. A couple of eggs were laid and

two birds hatched. After a few days I looked at them and found one

killed, the other cast forth on the floor of the cage ; it was living, so I put

it under a Canary whose eggs were on the point of hatching. She and her

cock took to this foundling and went on feeding it, even after they had a

second brood, it was so backward and forlorn! For a long time it could

not fly, as it had a wing injured by its fall from the nest. I then put it

with the other Canaries, who also took pit}' on it, and it always slept

between two, who seemed to guard and keep it warm. It was—in birds 1 —

the ugliest thing ever born. Imagine a Mannikin’s head and beak, goggle

eyes—it looked like an Owl—a short body, one shoulder higher than the

other, the feathers and legs of a Greenfinch. It had no song, only an

occasional chirp ; it looked dull and seemed sorry for itself, otherwise it was

well and happy. I never saw it take a bath.


With great regret I had to part with my birds, as their seed brought

mice into the room, so I gave the poor little dwarf away ; it soon pined for

its companions and died.



White Dob.



