97



CORRESPONDENCE.



THE TUI OR PARSON-BIRD.


Sir, — I should be glad to know whether any of the members are

keeping or have kept the Tui or Parson-bird. I had a Tui some three years

ago, but only managed to keep it alive for three months. I found it the

most interesting bird I ever had, but it died suddenly, having been

apparently quite well the day before. After death, it was found to be a mass

of fat, and no doubt it died in a fit.


F. MoKRSCHEhh.



The following ?-eply was sent to Mr. Moerschell.


I kept the Tui very successfully years ago, one female living with me

from May, 1889, to August, 1892—over three years, in perfect health and

plumage, and then it died in a fit (the usual cause of death) from eating

something intended for some other birds. If properly attended to, there is

no reason why it should not live any length of time.


Some two 3'ears ago, or more, since when an unusual number of

Tuis have been brought over in excellent condition, I noticed that the old

food had been discontinued, and that the Tuis were being brought over on

condensed milk ; (one of our members referred to this food in the Magazine

last summer or autumn). I have used Nestles’ condensed milk and biscuit

for a long time past for my Lorikeets, and certainly should use it (with

caution, for it is very sweet) for Tuis, should I ever keep them again.


I take a little out of the tin with a small spoon, and place the spoon

with its contents in a small saucer (a deep one if it can be got ); over this I

crumble biscuit and then fill up with water. Finally, with the spoon, to

which much of the milk will adhere, I stir 'well up, until all in the spoon has

been dissolved. The best biscuit for birds that I know of (if there is a better

I should like to know of it) is Huntley and Palmer’s tea biscuit. I give

ordinary biscuit (the more I see of bread for birds the less I like it) and milk

sop in the morning, substituting the preserved milk in the afternoon, as it

does not get sour during the night: by this arrangement the birds have

plenty of food in the early morning to keep them going until their

“breakfast” is served.


I have tried honey and various other things, but have not found

anything to come up to well-stewed apple sweetened with castor (my brown)

sugar. I give this in addition to the milk, and also other food according to

the bird.


The Tui has a brush-tipped tongue, and during a fine summer, when

mine were out in the garden, they were constantly seen hanging downwards

from the branches of any low bush or tree, thrusting their tongues into the

flowers. They also licked Aphidce from the leaves ; but most of their insedt

prey w f as taken on the wing, the birds hawking until quite late in the

evening—but only after the smallest gnats and midges.


Only the smallest insedts should be supplied to them, winged ones in

preference, as the wings seem to adt as “ dispersers.” I do not approve of

dried ants’-eggs for Tuis, unless better than any I ever see, but fresh ants’-

eggs for a change might be very good. I should feel inclined to try dried

flies if one could get a good sample. Do everything you can to prevent



