Correspondence , Notes , etc.



223



WAX BILLS IN A CAGE.


Sir, — I have a large open cage, 29 x 16 x 30 inches, in which I am

keeping a pair of Silverbills, a pair of Cordon Blens, a pair of Avadavats,

and four other small foreigners. The cage stands in a window with an

eastern aspect, in a room which we nse only for taking our meals in, and

which is warmed with a thoroughly well ventilated gas fire which is turned

off directly each meal is over and only relighted shortly before the next.


We feed the birds on white millet, spray millet, and canary seed, with

a little fresh dried yolk of egg each morning, and give them plenty of

clean sand and a bath, of which they are very fond, most mornings while

we are having breakfast. During the winter we cover the cage with a light

muslin cover after our last meal, to afford protection to the birds from

draughts when the room is swept and ventilated in the mornings.


The birds appear generally health}-, but their plumage is far from

satisfactory. The hen Cordon Bleu has not a feather on her head and the

cock bird constantly picks her as they cuddle side by side, often giving her

skin a pinch that evidently hurts her: his plumage is perfect.


An Orange-cheeked Waxbill shows similar tendency, and its feathers

are rough, especially on the shoulders, and there is some bareness on the

neck.


Another bird, whose identity 1 cannot determine, never having seen

one like it before, has been in capital condition all last summer and

autumn until recently. Now its plumage has gone very rough, and it sits

most of its time lumpy and with its head “under its wing.” I bought him

last June, out of a mixed lot from a dealer who did not know anything

about him, and he has been a strong vigorous bird, full of life and activity.

He resembles a Lavender Finch that has lived in the Black Country, and

got thoroughly smoked and grimed until the lavender has become a dirty

grey and the claret of the wings and tail a dull reddish brown. He was in

poor plumage and condition when I bought him, but soon improved and

became sleek and well feathered. Just now he looks about as bad as he did

at first. He has only one poor note of a guttural character, like the chirp

of a Sparrow.


I feel sure the cage and birds are quite clean and their condition is

not due to insects : there is no trace of irritation among them.


Can you help me to identify my bird, and advise me how I may

vary the treatment so as to improve the plumage ?


Chas. L. Rothera.


The folloTving reply has been sent to Mr. Rothera :


When Cordon Bleus or Orange-cheeked Waxbills are kept in cages

they almost invariably amuse themselves by plucking one another’s heads

and necks : I do not believe there is any remedy but isolating the plucked

specimens until the feathers have grown again.



