6 7



There is not the slightest difference in plumage in the sexes. I have

dissected scores after skinning, and find a very bright coloured fine bird as

often turns out to be a hen as a cock.


Kingfishers are liable to fits in confinement; in fact, I think that is

the end of most of them. In conclusion, I must say I cannot strongly

recommend them as cage pets. Their cage very soon becomes offensive,

they cannot be kept in good plumage, are short-lived birds in confinement,

and have uo song whatever. Any real lover of birds would soon tire of

keeping a bird with uo tail, and wings with about as much beauty in them

as there is in a poor butterfly’s, after a child has been playing with it.



CORRESPONDENCE.


A PIED BLACKBIRD.


Sir, — During the late hard frost, a pied Blackbird was seen frequenting

our back yard. Many attempts were made to capture it, and finally a gin

was set, into which the bird at once ventured and was caught; although it

was caught by the head no damage occurred, and it was immediately released

from its unpleasant position and caged.


Four weeks have now elapsed since its capture and the bird is in fine

plumage, looks healthy and is growing fairly tame. It is fed on barleymeal,

oatmeal and groats, and various tit-bits. As it whistles it is probably a cock.

The body is glossy black; the head, neck and throat much speckled with

white; there is a white bar behind the head, and one white spot in the

centre of the breast. The wings are evenly marked with four white

feathers on each shoulder, and the first primary is also white. The beak is

very long and brilliant orange-yellow.


E. E. Thoyts.



FOREIGN FINCHES AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.


Sir, — I have read with much pleasure Mr. Fillmer’s interesting

article in the March Magazine, on “ Foreign Finches at the Crystal Palace.”


As he has evidently undertaken to set me right in regard to some of

my exhibits, perhaps I may be allowed to reciprocate the compliment by

correcting him. He says my second prize Waxbills are “ Bathilda ruficauda ”

sometimes called the Red-lieaded Waxbill. In this he is not quite corredt.

According to my information and understanding they are “ Estrelda

ruficauda ” or Red-tailed Finches, as “ ruficauda ” clearly denotes. He also

says “ Mr. Smart’s beautiful White-crested Finch fdonacola pectoralisj took

the third prize.” Here again he is wrong. The finch is not white crested ,

but white breasted, as it ought to be, and as pectoralis demonstrates. In

regard to my two Bishops or Weaver Birds, both are certainl}' Oryx cocks,

as I was well aware. The Crimson-head entered was too far gone out of

colour to be sent, and at the last moment I substituted an Oryx rather than

cancel the entry. I could not, of course, alter the entry-form then-, although

I might have affixed the name to the show-box, if the rules permit of that

being done, which I rather think they don’t. The alteration, however, was

so palpable, that it could mislead no one with any pretensions to knowledge

of foreign birds. In these circumstances my mistake, if it be one, is

“excusable although tiresome.” In future, the better way perhaps will be,

to cancel an entry where the bird entered is not presentable, rather than

substitute another, and be thought ignorant of its name.


For the benefit of others, as well as in vindication of myself, I trust

you will give this a corner in the Magazine for April.


The plan of having the Palace Show reported in the Magazine by

various experts is, I think, a capital idea — at least, I have enjoyed the

March Magazine very much.



John Smart.



