224



Correspondence , Notes, etc .



In the case of both forms of Amaduvade Waxbills, and frequently in

the case of Orange-cheeked Waxbills, this abominable propensity is

common even in good-sized aviaries, especially if several pairs of the same

species are kept together : it is the chief drawback to keeping these other¬

wise charming little finches.


If your unidentified bird agrees in size, and the colour of its beak,

with the Lavender Finch, it can only be a melanistic example of that

species; but if it is larger, and has a greyish beak, it is probably the Black¬

necked Waxbill ( Lagonosticta nigricollis) from the Niger: but this seems

unlikely.


When a Lavender Finch goes wrong, especially in a cage and after it

has been some months in captivity, it is generally suffering from pulmonary

disease, and is doomed : it is one of the most sensitive to cold of all the

Waxbills, and three years is the longest period for which I have been able

to keep it alive in my aviaries.


A. G. Butter.



ZOvSTF.ROPS ; BLOSSOM-HEADS ; BUDGERIGARS.


Sir,—I should be greatly obliged by your advice on the following

points :


1. —Would a pair of Zosterops live in safety in the same cage (a

large one) with a pair of Blossom-headed Parrakeets and a pair of Yellow

Budgerigars ?


2. —Could I put ui}’ Zosterops in the garden aviary—say in May—and

would they winter out-of-doors ? My aviary has a closed in part, lighted

by a window access for the birds, the closed part being gained by a square

opening in the door. In the summer the door between the closed in and

open parts of the aviary is open night and day.


3. —My Blossom-lieads (young birds) seem to eat very little in pro¬

portion to their size—only a little millet and half an orange lasts them

three days. They love melon seed, but I have only a little by me. They

will not look at mealworms, nor will my Zosterops.


4. —The hen Yellow Budgerigar I have just bought as a mate for my

yellow cock, who has wintered out-of-doors. I propose bringing him in to

live with Mrs. Yellow till the warm weather sets in and it will be safe to

start her out-of-doors. All the other Budgerigars in the aviary are green.

None of them nested or laid an egg last year, when I started my aviary.

The Budgerigars have a separate part to themselves.


M. WlELIAMS.


The folloioing reply zcas sent to Mrs. Williams :


1.—The Zosterops would not be safe with the Parrakeets. The latter

differ greatly in disposition, but some of them, especially Budgerigars, are

spiteful, and nip and break the limbs of other birds.



