48


much of an epicure as Mr. Pliillipps’ Chinese Blue Pie “ Cherry,” nothing good

comes amiss, but if he can steal an almond, crack the shell, and scold till

every bit of the kernel is gone, he is in his glory. I said his grey (which

ought to have been white) waistcoat is his only drawback, but there is

another. It is that he has never done moulting, fresh spikes are always

coming out. I tried claret, by Mrs. Pretyman’s advice, but Jot takes but

one sip and shakes his head; while Parrish’s chemical food he takes

readily, and still he bristles.


Jot has been with me since the Foreign Bird Show at Brighton in

October, 1S93 ; he never tries to fly, and last autumn he used to accompany

me along the Wish Parade at Eastbourne and round by the Duke’s Drive.

Reckless and fearless little creature, he will go at my fox terrier puppy and

hold his own bravely too (but needless to say this pastime is not encouraged

by me). A “ kitten in feathers,” that is the only way I can describe his

most comical character. Enough about Jot.


Outside, in the garden aviary, are King Rufus and his Queen ; Rosella,

something of a flirt; Redstar, a New Zealand Parrakeet, the best mannered

bird of the lot, with a funny little bleat like a kid ; two talking Cockatiels,

who, on retiring into their tub at night, remind each other that ‘‘Joey’s a

pretty bird, Joey’s a beauty, pretty Joey, kiss, kiss Joey,”—pair of Lovebirds ;

Virginian Nightingales ; Budgerigars with their infants ; Bullfinches ; Gold¬

finches; and Linnets. While in the house living harmoniously together are

six Waxbills; a Paradise Whydah; a Combassou ; a Nun; Spicebird;

Zebra; and other small Finches,—none, however, so friendly, or so interest¬

ing as the larger birds. And the question I should like to ask is : —


Would it be feasible for Members of the Avicultural Society to

bequeath their birds to the Society, to the mutual advantage of Birds and

Bird-lovers ?


Yours faithfully,


——— A Member.


GOULDIAN FINCHES WITH DISEASED FEET.


Sir, — I have four Gouldian Finches — one pair Red-headed and one

pair Black-headed. I bought them three months ago of a seafaring man

who had brought them himself from Queensland. They were deep in the

moult but seemed quite healthy. He told us that they had been fed on

w T hite millet, white bread, and lettuce. This regime I have generally

followed, adding at times canary seed and green turf. They are kept in a

big cage in a dry, sunny bird-room, which is heated on cold nights. They

have long been well through the moult, but suffer from swelled feet. All

have suffered in turn and b}- degrees have got better, except the Red-headed

hen whose feet are bad now, and who seems to suffer much. None of their

feet,, however, have quite got back to the normal state. The birds were very

fond of bathing, but since the first one had swelled feet I have stopped the

bath in case the complaint might be rheumatism from a chill.


Can you make any suggestion as to treatment ?


O. Ernest Cressweel.


The fallowing reply has been sent to Mr. Cresswell : —


Gouldian Finches are extremely liable to inflammation of the feet,

which frequently terminates in gangrene, the toes becoming black and

falling off. The only remedy I have found to be of any use is a saturated

solution of boric acid. The latter may be purchased from any chemist, and

dissolved by pouring boiling water on it, taking care to have rather more of

the powder than the water will dissolve, to ensure the solution being strong

enough. This may be kept in a bottle and used as required. To use it a

small cup should be half filled with the solution, and an equal quantit}- of

warm water added. The bird’s feet should be held in this for about ten

minutes at a time, twice (or better still,, three times) a day.


C- Simpson..



