79



CRIMSON-WING PARRAKEETS.


SIR,—In the early part of 1895, my hen Crimson-wing laid two eggs;

but I found the old birds did not sit well, the result being that both eggs

turned out addled.


Profittiug by my experience, and in order to be prepared, should

they have eggs next year, I purchased several Doves; and it so happened

that a Dove laid an egg the same day as the Crimson-wing in January, 1896.

I changed the eggs, and placed the Dove’s egg under the Parrakeet and

vice versa. I again found the Parrakeet unreliable, so allowed the Doves to

continue sitting on the Parrakeet’s egg (only one was laid on this occasion)

with the ultimate result that the egg was hatched. Unfortunately, the

time of the year was against rearing the young one, and the Doves could

not feed it although they tried, I believe, very hard, and, as I thought, were

succeeding. I did not interfere until the Sunday morning, when I found it

dead, although it was alive at twelve o’clock on the Saturday night, it

having been hatched on the previous Friday.


I showed both my pairs of Kings and Crimson-wings at the Crystal

Palace last year. It was my first attempt at showing, and I was awarded

1st for the Kings and Extra 3rd for the Crimson-wings—the well-deserved

reproof from Dr. Simpson, in his article of March last, may explain why

the latter did not do better. The hen had laid an egg the day before being

sent to the Show, and I can only plead my ignorance in birdy matters for

having sent her. As it was, she caught cold and I very nearly lost her, as

she parted with a soft egg after a very great deal of trouble. Since then she

has recovered, and I am looking forward to trying again to get them to

breed, and shall be very grateful for any information concerning either the

Crimson-wings or Kings.


I may add that they occupy a cage 23m. by 19m. bj' 19m,with a breeding

box attached, into which is fitted a block of wood hollowed to the centre,

so that the eggs will be prevented from rolling about. I have not pre¬

viously had such a suitable nest-box as I have now, consequently I am a

little more sanguine of success.


John Doherty.



A CHEAP FOOD FOR INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS.


Sir, —Towards the end of 1896, I received a letter from our member,

Mr. Frank Finn, Indian Museum, Calcutta (dated December 9th) as follows:

“ Dear Sir,—I am sending you, this mail, a pound sample of a dried insect

which I think would prove cheaper and more attractive as food for birds

than ant cocoons. I have seen it eaten dry, by several species, and am now

feeding a Sliama largely on it. You will see that it ought to be just the

thing for breeding Finches. Should a demand for it arise, any quantity

could, I think, be supplied, as the insect is excessively abundant during a

short period each year, andean be collected in handfuls under lamps. You

might, if you would, bring this to the notice of the Avicultural Society.”


On the 2nd of January, the box arrived and I opened it with interest;

I found it filled with a mass of minute insects, about the size of Aphides,

bright green sometimes varied with black. Close examination proved that

they were the perfect insects produced from some form of “cuckoo-spit”



