birds are watered by their parents, but there may be some who

have not read it. The cock, as soon as the young are hatched,

developes the following curious habit: He rubs the feathers of

his breast up and down on the hard ground until they are all

awry ; he then soaks himself in his drinking-water, goes to the

young, calls them, and they suck the water from his breast.

The reason of this is obvious : Sand Grouse, although they live

and breed on comparatively waterless deserts, cannot exist

without water, and traverse immense distances morning and

evening to drink, being able to do this by means of their unrivalled

power of flight. The young, hatched far out on waterless plains,

would certainly perish for want of water were it not for this

extraordinary habit in the males. Rubbing the feathers doubt¬

less makes them saturate more freely, and not dry too soon

on the voyage from the drinking-place to where his family is

located.


After the breeding-season, I let all my birds run together

by allowing them to pass from one aviary to another, and their

play then is very amusing: running after one another in play,

and “ butting ” with their shoulders. Their actions also when

dusting are very curious, as they roll on to their backs and dust

with their shoulders, keeping both feet np. The tiny newly-

hatched young of an hour or two old will do this. The gravel

path that surrounds the turf lawn in their aviary should be of a

kind of gravel that binds well, for if the hole they scratch silts

up, they will have nothing to do with it.


I could write much more on these birds, but fear to

trespass further.



CORRESPONDENCE.


THE TUI, AND OTHER POLUEN-EATING BIRDS.


Sir,— There have been several letters in the Avicultural Magazine

during the past few months regarding the treatment of these delightful

birds. Most of the writers have laid stress upon the reputed delicacy of

Tuis, and especially upon their liability to lay on fat and to become subject

to fits. At the same time we have been advised to feed on condensed milk,

mashed potatoes, sweet biscuit powder, sugar in plenty, and other articles

of diet which certainly would not be allowed in the case of a human

subject under anti-fat treatment.


My object in writing is to note that apparently Tuis can be kept in

the best possible condition, as regards health and plumage, upon a diet

which certainly seems to be less likely, than some of the foods lately

prescribed, to induce the accumulation of fat, which is so much to be

avoided if possible. At the same time, I wish to be careful to state that

the birds under notice have only been in my possession for four mouths.



