370



Corresponde?ice, Notes, etc.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.



HERON-BREEDING IN TUNIS.


Sir, —It lias been stated in the Journal d'Acclimatation, the Garden-

taube, and other periodicals that there exists near Tunis an Institution for

the breeding of Egrets in captivity, in order to supply plumes ( aigrettes)

for ladies’ hats in Paris. It is said that the birds multiply rapidly in a large

aviary supplied with trees and water and are regularly “deplumed ’’ twice a

year. They are stated to yield on an average “six grammes of featheis

worth five francs per gramme,” so that the feathers are “ more valuable

than gold, which is worth only about three francs per gramme! ”


I should much like to know whether this circumstantial story is true,

for Egrets are not usually good breeders in captivity. Can any of your

readers kindly supply me with information on the subject?


P. L. SCLATER.



ROSY PASTORS IN LONDON.


Mr. Frank Finn publishes the following note in the Feathered World

of August 11tli :


“ It may interest some of your readers to know that last week a

dozen Rosy Pastors were liberated in St. James’s Park. I recently

imported twenty-six of these birds, a dozen of which I sold to pay

expenses, while I gave another dozen for liberation in St. James’s Park.

One of these died (the only one since shipment), so I replaced it by another

before I cleared out the rest. The birds were kept confined about a week,

and let out early last week. They much appreciated their liberty, and have

been going about the island, behind the keeper’s house, and som e

occasionally crossing to the mainland, where I am told they alreadj'

attract notice. They come hack for food to the place they were shut up in,

so they evidently well know their way about.”



ORNAMENTATION OF MOUTH IN YOUNG BIRDS.


Sir, —I was watching a brood of five young Cutthroats being fed

to-day, and I notice that the inside of the mouth is very curiously

coloured—blotched black and yellow, the roof spotted. Has this fact been

recorded ? F. H. Rudkin.


The following answer has been sent to Mr. Rudkin:


In Vol. V. of the Avicultural Magazine, pp. 25—27, I have given an

illustrated account of the ornamentation of the mouth in the young

Gouldian Finch.


Since then, the mouth of the young Cordon Bleu and, I think, one or

two other species has been described, but I believe most breeders of the

Ribbon Finch have been afraid to examine the young too closely, on



