209



In the article on the Wood Dark, Dr. Butler tells a good

story of how he was taken in by a birdcatcher ; it is evident that

he rather enjoyed it, and his good temper over it is instilled into

the narrative.


At the end of the volume is an addendum containing

notices of species, two of which —Proregulus viridanus and

Phylloscopus proregulus —are genuine stragglers for the first time

to our shores. Another example of Emberiza melanocephala is

mentioned, and also an example of Phyrrhula major. We

cannot agree with Dr. Butler when he doubts the possibility of

distinguishing P. major from P. europcza ; but the foreigner

being so extensively kept as a cage-bird can never be recognised

as British, however frequently it may occur.



CORRESPONDENCE.



DOVES AT LIBERTY.


Sir,—A ny note on so well-known a bird as the common Collared

Dove maj' seem superfluous, but I should like to call attention to the fa6t

that these Doves make charming and most ornamental pets when at liberty

in a country garden.


A pair of them, turned out in March, nested repeatedly in a large

lime tree, and there are now seven young ones. Two nests were also built

in a spruce fir, but were destroyed by a cat.


These Doves have remained very tame, and though strong flyers,

they do not roam very far. B. C. Thomasset.



BARRABAND’S PARRAKEET.


Sir, — I n the Spring of last year, a consignment of Polytelis barrabandi

reached this country, and as most of them seem to have lived but a short

time, perhaps it may be useful to some members to know how I have

treated mine, which are now about as fine a pair of birds as one could wish

to see.


I obtained what I thought to be a true pair on the 23rd of April last

year, and turned them into a large cage, supplying them with boiled maize,

hemp- and canary-seed.


The cock, although in very rough plumage, looked healthy and

inclined to live ; but the “hen,” which turned out to be a youthful member

of the sterner sex, looked decidedly seedy from the first, and soon died.

Its skin, which I still have, is interesting, as it shows the red feathers 011

the thighs and the rose-colour of the underside of the tail, both of which

are characteristic of the adult female; as well as a few yellow feathers on

the face and red on the upper breast, indications of the adult male plumage :

showing that the plumage of the immature male is identical with that of

the adult female.



