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be a hen, trying to feed its owner,

an indication of sex.



It has occurred to me that it might be



Replies.



F. G. Dutton.



i.—S o far as my experience is concerned with regard to Parrots

plucking their feathers, I have found the males as bad as the females. I

had three of the former sex (Amazons) that persisted in keeping the breast

destitute of feathers. Also two Delectus males were partial to this habit.

One, however, discontinued plucking for a time, upon being introduced to

one of the opposite sex as a companion. I do not believe the one sex more

addicted to the habit than the other.



2.—Feeding its owner, is, I take it, disgorging food from the crop.

The hen. I believe, does this as much as the cock. A Blue-fronted Amazon,

an undoubted hen (having laid two years in succession), would commence

feeding its owner almost directly it was handed from the cage: this, I

think,°is an indication of affedtion. I could give other instances of female

Parrots acting in this manner. Tameness has much to do with Parrots

feeding those who care for them.


H. T. T. Camps.



I have never had a Parrot or Parrakeet, which I knew to be a hen,

that tried to feed its human friends from the crop. My Grey Parrot does

so : this bird is an excellent talker, and I believe it to be a cock. A male

Ring-neck does so most persistently. My Purple-capped Tory, which is

most tame and affectionate, never attempts to feed me, nor does it talk : it

is probably a female. I have two Amazons (Chrysotis viridigenalis and

C. alb if runs) : the former is very tame, a poor talker, and never attempts to

feed from the crop ; nor does the latter, which is a bad-tempered biid and

talks a little. I suspect they are both hens. Other Parrots and Parrakeets

which I have, and of which I know the sex, are not tame enough to display

this particular form of affection.


I have never had a Parrot that plucked itself; but I know of two

which do so. They are both good talkers, and probably cocks.


- C. S. Simpson.



THE YELLOW WAGTAIL.


Sir, — Does the Yellow Wagtail nest in this country?


Here (Berkshire) it appears late in the Summer, and comes on the

conservatory roof for flies. I only observe it then, and never more than

single specimens, and only for a few weeks.


E. E. Thoyts.


[The Yellow Wagtail is a regular Summer visitor to the British

Islands, arriving early in April and leaving in September. In Cornwall and

Devon, it is usually seen on migration : but from Somerset onwards, it is

generally distributed as a breeding species throughout England and Wales,

in suitable localities. The nest, built in the latter part of April and

generally well concealed, is placed in a depression or small furrow of the

giouud in a meadow or corn-field ; moss and dry grass being generally used

for the exterior, wdiile the lining may be of feathers, hair, rabbits'-down, or

fine roots. The eggs, 4 — 6, are greyish-wliite mottled with clay-brown and

have often some black hair-streaks.— Saunders' Manual of British Birds .]



THE SHOW QUESTION.


Sir, —Allow me as a Member of the Avicultural Society to give my

vote against the proposal to run a Show in connection wfith the Society. I

think it would be a great mistake to hamper the usefulness of the Society

by employing the time of the committee^ or the funds of the Society, for

any such objeCt. Personally, I do like to see a good Show of birds, but

there are already enough Clubs and Societies arranging for such exhibitions.

Rather let us strive by means of our Magazine to spread a knowledge of

Aviculture. J. C. Poor,.



