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Sir,—A n account of a few of my pet birds may interest aviculturists.


About ten months ago, a young Bullfinch was given to me, from the

nest. I reared it on the usual food, and kept it in a large cage with several

foreign birds in an empty room; they were often let out to fly about in it,

and bathe, etc.


The only singing-bird I then had, was a Virginian Nightingale.

These birds (about ten) were kept together all the year; and just before

Christmas, I was surprised to hear the Virginian Nightingale (as I thought)

beginning to sing very prettily, as they do not generally begin until March.

However, I discovered that it was the Bullfinch, which had learnt the

exact notes of the red bird: and he has no natural Bullfinch notes. Every

one admires his very sweet song; he is so tame and friendly, and will take

seeds, etc. from anyone’s fingers. One day, when his cage was out of doors

and he the only occupant, he escaped and flew among the trees; as there

are plenty of woods near, we were afraid he was lost. But the next morning,

he flew into one of the windows and seemed glad to get into his cage once

more. Since then, we let him fly out purposely, and he always returns

after a few hours absence. I am not quite sure that he is not a hen, as he

shews no colour on the breast yet, and it is nearly a year since I got him.


An African Sparrow (Pyrgitopsis simplex) , that I have had two years,

is also very good about returning to his home. He got out of doors,

accidentally, three times; now, on fine days, I let him out of the window,

and put his cage either inside or out, and he enters it as often as he feels

hungry, and then flies out again; but he always conies back for the night.

He never gets very tame.


A. M. Wordsworth.



THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT.


Sir, —The observations by Mr. Phillipps on this subject are very

interesting, but not conclusive. Two of my aviaries are situated just

below my son’s bedroom window, and for several nights, when (during

a domestic whitewashing mania) I was obliged to sleep in his room, I was

aroused repeatedly by hearing my birds flying violently about and striking

the wires in the night. I find that this sort of thing goes on throughout

the year. In my bird-room also, I constantly hear my peaceful Doves

flying wildly round and round their aviary when it is pitch-dark; my

Weavers, Java Sparrows, .Saffron-finches, etc. cursing them heartily as they

brush past them. Why they do it, I don’t know ; but it certainly is not

migratory fever—more likely the fidgets.


A. G. Butter.



THE RUFOUS-TAILED GRASS-FINCH.


(Bathilda rnjicaiida.)


Sir, —With reference to the question at issue between Mr. Smart and

Mr. Fillmer, I should like to make a few observations. The name Estrelda

ruficaada was formerly given to this bird, and became the popular scientific

name in consequence of want of knowledge of the habits of the species.

In this sense alone Mr. Abrahams used it.


Soon after Mr. Abrahams imported the birds now in Mr. Smart’s

possession, he wrote to me and urged me to go and see them ; and when at

last I was able to get away from business, Mr. Abrahams possessed only one

pair, which he told me I ought to become the owner of, and figure them

in my book. Had I been a wealth}' man, I should have been tempted ; but

my book was then written, and all the plates decided upon. I, however,

learnt one thing about them, which I have since been able to confirm:

Mr. Abrahams called my attention to the position of the male-bird when

singing, and the sibilant, scarcely audible, character of its song; both were

precisely the same as in Gould’s Grass-finch (Poephila mirabilis and gouldice).



