Correspondence, Notes, etc .



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37 °


Cardinals bought in February, and a lot of other small foreign and English

birds. The Popes laid, but as they went for the birds that came near their

nest I removed them to a little hutch about a yard square, where they

continued to lay. One egg I put under a Canary hatched, though most of

them were clear. The Green Cardinals are very tame and built in the

outside of the aviary, and they sat alternately, changing nests whilst Iwas

looking on, but I am sorry to say their eggs are clear.


I am much troubled with red mite in my aviary ; one side I have

syringed with creosote, but the birds would not go in for some days, as the

stuff was very strong. The other side; was limed and done with Jeve’s fluid

this spring, but several Canary and mule nests have been deserted when

hatched, and the young have been covered with red mite. They do not

mind Keating, as all the boxes are done often out, and fresh hay with

Keating put at the bottom, and they were scalded this spring. I find that

only creosote kills tlieur. Can I put anything into the birds’ bath water, as

they pick themselves. A Bullfinch hatched and then deserted owing to

these mites.*


I have a pair of tiny Quails, but the cock nearly 7 pecked the hen’s

ey 7 es out, and I had to separate them. The cock Saffron-fincli paired with

the Canary, but she deserted; the eggs were fertile, I believe. The

Virginians are sitting for the fourth time; the eggs disappeared the third

time when ready to hatch.


I wish some more of the members would describe their aviary-

experiences for the benefit of others.


I have a pair of Robins : the cock only calls to the hen if separated :

he never sings. Last year a Lavender Finch, two Yellow-cheeked

Waxbills, and three Cordon Bleus, one of which I bred, stood i8° to 24°

of frost in my out door aviary. I should like to know if many of the

members have tried leaving the Spectacle-birds out.


M. C. Hawke.



THE ELECTION FOR THE COUNCIL


Members are reminded (pp. 311 and 313, July number)

that an Election of Members to serve on the Council for next

year is about to take place. The names of new Candidates, duly

seconded, must reach the hands of the Business Secretary'- before



* Fill up all the chinks, crevices, and sleeping places of the mites with common soft-

soap as bought, using it freely, and leaving it alone just as smeared in. After dark, for

several evenings, rub the walls, perches, &c., well over with a cloth, which has been dipped

in paraffin. If done with intelligence, this should entirely free the place of mites ; and if,

in the spring, soft-soap be freely used as directed, not a mite should appear during the

succeeding summer. Old nesting material should be removed and burnt.—K. P.



