Con'espondejice, Notes , etc.



34i



we know Liothrix is very omnivorous, and can winter outside without heat,

I hope that this experience will encourage some one to try these charming

birds in the open — anyone living near a London park would be well

situated for this. But he should get strong fliers and separate the sexes,

letting out the cooks one da}' and hens another. A bird which, even

without proper power of flight, can run the gauntlet of cats and Sparrows,

given vegetation of a very limited kind, has possibilities which might be

made more of by people who would like to try aviculture in the open.


Frank Finn.



PROLIFIC REDRUMPS.


Sir, — M y Redrumps hatched and reared five young ones last autumn,

all of which proved to be hens.


In April they again went to nest, and again hatched a brood of five

consisting, this time, of three cocks and two hens.


Before the young had left the nest a week the cock began to ill-treat

them and I was forced to cage him. The good little hen continued, single-

handed, to feed the five. At the end of another week they were able to

shell seed, so I removed them to a small aviary, where they have flourished

exceedingly.


The old hen soon went to nest again, laying four eggs in her log

nest and dropping one soft one on the ground.


Last Sunday, seeing the hen outside, I felt in the log and found there

only a few small pieces of broken egg-shell. Could mice have destroyed

the eggs ? A perch had fallen in such a way that they might have obtained

access to the log. The cock was then busy feeding the hen, and they

evidently mean to try again to raise a family.


I only hope that such a succession of nests will not prove too much

for the hen.


B. C. THOMASSET.



FLINT- AND SHELL-GRIT FOR BIRDS.


The value of good clean grit for birds in captivity is well known to

aviculturists, but it is often difficult to obtain this in its most suitable form.


Mr. Arthur Gill has brought to our notice some specially crushed

grit which he has proved to be admirably suited to the requirements of

birds in captivity; and from a careful examination of it we are convinced

that it will prove to be invaluable to aviculturists. It is manufactured by

Mr. Herbert Clarke of Bank Buildings, Erith, Kent, and is known as

“ Herbert Grit.” It is sold in several degrees of fineness. Extra fine grit

at 1/- for 7lbs., 2/6 for 281bs. or 8/- per cwt. A slightly coarser quality,

suitable for all but the smallest birds, is priced at 2/- for 2Slbs. or 6/- per

cwt.



