Correspondence , Notes , etc.



335



purposes in England. When at last the “ Hummers ” were about ready to

fly a friend unfortunately struck the nest with a stream from a garden hose,

and that was the last we saw of them.—J. W. Creighton (New West¬

minster, British Columbia).”



THE YELLOW-RUMPED PARRAKEET.*


Sir,—I am sorry to inform you that, on looking in the nest to-day, I

found the two young Yellow-Rumps dead. I cannot understand the cause,

the old ones looked after them well, and there was seed in their crops. On

dissection they appeared to be as healthy as possible, but very small; they

were only just dead, and about three weeks old, but they were not more

forward than other birds I have had a week old. There were also two

unfertile eggs, so I suppose the old ones are weak, although they look as

well and healthy as can be. The eggs were very small, no larger than

Redrumps. Perhaps they were disturbed when the eggs were being laid.

I hope better luck next time, they may possibly lay again this year.


Wm. R. Fasey.



YELLOW SPARROWS.


Sir,— I have a pair of birds, the identity of which I do not know.

Will yon tell me what they are? They are about the size of Silverbills,

but I think more slender in figure; head, breast, under parts, and under

part of tail, pale yellow ; wings and tail brown with Sparrow-like markings.


The head of one more deeply shaded than the other, so I suppose

they are cock and hen. The} 7 have rather a Sparrow-like look, but they

hang on to the wires of the cage something like Tits. I expect they are

not uncommon, but I can’t find them in the books.


They seem to eat very little, chiefly white millet; they do not seem

to touch the canary seed, and are not keen on spray millet, although they

eat a little of the small Indian millet.


I give Abrahams’ food and a little yolk, but if they eat any 7 it is very

little. They like mealworms, but I don’t know if it is right to give them.

I should be glad to know what they are and how to feed them. They are

pretty little birds, but not gay. The beak is more like the Indigo-bird I

think than any other I know. E. E. WEST.


The following reply has been sent to Miss West:


I suspect that the birds are Yellow, or Golden Sparrowsf (Passer

luteusj : you do not say whether the} 7 were received from Africa or not; but

if they are what I suppose they are natives of N. Africa.



* See page 301.


t The name of “ Golden Sparrow ” should, we think, be confined to Passer euchlorus ,

of Arabia, the Abyssinian P. listens being termed the “ yellow Sparrow.”— Ed.



