17



numerous students at the Hospital, and was in every respedt most

interesting.


Since going through her trouble, “Polly” has talked and whistled

better than ever; and it was a matter for remark, that she got over the

operation very quickly, thanks to her strength and the careful treatment

bestowed upon her.


GOULD IAN FINCHES AND VIRGINIAN CARDINALS.


Sir, —I am much obliged to Mr. St. Quintin for his interesting article

“ On the Treatment of Newly-imported Gouldian Finches.” I was in hopes

my question as to the treatment they require would have revealed some¬

thing new in the shape of food, other than white and spray-millet, canary

seed, flowering tufts of grass, and chickweed ; a substitute, for example, for

the occasional insect they probably pick up when in their wild state, and

miss (with harm) in confinement.* My Gouldiaus eat a little Inga-seed now

and then ; but I have never seen them touch a mealworm, ant’s egg, yolk

of egg, or any such food so readily eaten, with benefit, by scores of other

birds, and which, in moderation, would most likely benefit them too, if

the}' would eat it.


Generally speaking, I have treated my newly-imported birds in the

way Mr. St. Quintin describes, but have, nevertheless, lost more Gouldiaus

(in value) than any other birds I have kept. My experiences agree with his

in several instances—as regards their waking up on the introduction of a

light, and feeding; also as regards the grit, of which, I believe, they can

take too much and derive harm instead of benefit from it.


I am extremely fascinated with these lovely birds, and have carefully

read all the articles I have found, in French and English, on the treatment

they need on their arrival in Europe. The following may be new to some

of our readers : A long and exhaustive article on the treatment of newly-

imported specimens appeared some two years ago in a Parisian paper,

L'Acclimatation Journal des Eleveurs , and in this article it was stated that in a

wild state, in their native country, they purge twice a year with salt—

“ volontairement en absorbant du sel gemmet qu’ils trouveut aux carrieres-

uiemes qu’ils visitent a cet effet,”—and the article recommended that they

be purged in a similar manner on their arrival in Europe. To do it, the

following was advised : Mix with the sand in the bottom of their cage

some pounded egg-shell, cuttle bone, and a pinch of pounded coarse salt.


Salt I have never seen recommended except by the writer of the said

article. A few months after its appearance, I purchased from a shop one

of the finest pairs of Redheads I ever saw. In less than a week, the cock

seemed to be going wrong, and I tried the above purging; he died in a few

days ; I cannot say if the salt had anything to do with it, but I have not

given salt to any since. One thing is certain, they seem extremely fond of

the mixture and continually pick it over.


When Gouldiaus are thoroughly acclimatized they are, in many

instances, quite hardy birds, as the following shows. In 1894, I purchased



* Is it not probable that the food which newlj'-imported Gouldian Finches miss,

and die for the want of, is some kind of seed, possibly in a half-ripe condition ? They

are strict vegetarians in England, and there seems no reason to believe that they eat

insects in their native land.—E d.


+ Sel gemme is rock salt, which I always supply to my birds, and which many of them

eat greedily at intervals.—R. P.



