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GOUIyDIAN FINCHES.


Sir,- —Will tlie Red-headed and Black-headed breed together ?


“ Gouedian.”



The following reply has been sent to the Member who asks the above questions :—


Certainly Red-headed and Black-headed Gonldian Finches will breed

together and produce fertile offspring: They even do so when wild, and in

the aviary Black-headed hens show a decided preference for Red-headed

mates. The two forms are only varieties of one species, and therefore it is

quite possible to breed Red-heads from Black-head parents, though not

usual. Fast year I purchased a pair of Black-headed Gouldians ; neither of

them showed any red on the face. The male bird died, but the female is

still living, and after her moult she showed several red feathers on the

cheeks, thus proving that one of her ancestors was a Red-liead.


A. G. Butrer.



OIF STOVES v. GAS STOVES FOR THE BIRD ROOM.


Mr. Fillmer, in the foot-note to his article in this month’s Magazine,

expresses a strong opinion against the use of oil stoves in bird rooms. I have

used one of Rippingille’s paraffin stoves, for two years, in my bird room, and

have found it free from smell, easily managed, and in no way injurious to

the birds. On the other hand, I have twice known serious accidents to

occur from the use of gas stoves. In one case, the flame was extinguished

in some way during the night, the gas continuing to escape ; and in the

other case, a “ syphon gas stove,” which had acted satisfactorily for some

time, got out of order, and filled the bird room with a dense suffocating

smoke. I11 both instances the accident was fortunately discovered before

very much harm was done.


I should be glad if any members of the Avicultural Society would

communicate their experience on a point so important to aviculturists.


C. S. Simpson.



CHAMBERS’ ENCYCFOP.FDIA AND AVICUFTURE.


Sir, — M essrs. W. and R. Chambers have recently brought out a new

edition of their very' useful Encyclopaedia. I have been much amused by'

reading the articles therein under the headings “Cage-birds” and “ Canary'-

bird.” It is a great pity that the Editor did not obtain the assistance of

some practical Aviculturist.


From the many extraordinary and erroneous statements contained in

these two short articles, I select the following for the edification of the readers

of the Avicultural Magazine. “ English soft-billed songsters ... all have to

be fed on crushed hemp and bread-crumbs, with animal food in the shape

of meat or insects.” (How long would the unfortunate soft-bills live on

this diet ?) “ It is far better to err on the side of short commons than to


feed too high.” (I suppose this means : “ Be liberal with the bread-crumbs

and sparing with the meal-worms.”) “ The safest and most useful medicine

is a drop of castor-oil.” (It kills twice as many'birds as it cures.) “The

Canary seems thoroughly reconciled to its cage life.” (It ought to be by this

time!) “The male (Canary) assists the female in building the nest.”

“Canary' and millet seed are their (Canaries’) principal food.” “The

Canary can learn to articulate words.” It is much to be regretted that a

standard work like “Chambers’ Encyclopaedia ” should give currency to

such arrant nonsense.



Septimus Perkins.



