19


The following reply was sent to Mr. Harrison : —


Ordinarily, the greatest height of colour is attained at the age of

three years, but it is also very much a matter of constitution. Blackbirds,

haud-reared and kept in cages indoors, do not obtain the same crocus-like

colour of bill and eye cere as do wild birds, or even those kept in aviaries

outdoors. So that while the colour may be some guide to age, the con-

ditions uuder which the bird has been kept must be taken into considera-

tiiou.


T. Marshai^Iv.



THE BRONZED DRONGO.


Sir, — A dealer lately advertized some Metallic Blackbirds, from India.

I wrote and asked him to let me know the scientific name of the bird or a

description of it. In reply, he writes : — "The Metallic Bird is the size of

an English Starling, it is ver}' handsome, ver}- glossy ; the Latin name is

Metallic Bird." Could you, from the above description, identify the bird.

I should like to get an Indian bird, called in Dr. Jerdou's book, the

Himalayan Whistling Thrush, which is something like an English Black-

bird, but larger, with a metallic gloss on the back. I am afraid from the

dealer's description, that the bird he has is hardly large enough to be the

bird I want.


C. L. Harrison.



7'he following reply was sent to Mr. Harrison : —

The bird is probably "The Bronzed Drongo " {Ckaptia ceneaj, a very

common species in India, and an excellent singer. It should prove a very

attractive cage-bird ; and, if to be had at a fairly reasonable price, T should

advise you to secure it.


A. G. BUTI^ER.



WET AND FROSTED GREEN FOOD.


Sir, — One continvially sees, in print, that green food must never be

given to birds either wet or with frost on it. I conclude that this only

applies to birds kept indoors ; as in my small aviar}' with aboiit 50 birds,

British and foreigners, last winter the seed was frequently coated over with

frost, and in that condition freely eaten ; also winter and summer, wet and

fine, my birds have a daily supply of such weeds as the garden supplies, and

at times, according to the weather, it is frequently wet and at other times

frosty. Again, I never remove the bath— it is there all weathers— and the

birds use it all weathers too, without any apparent ill eff"ect — I have not had

a death for two years, with such birds as Canaries, African Weavers, Indian

Avadavats, Cutthroats, Java Sparrows, and British Finches — but, if you

think it worth the space, I should like the opinion of some of our

experienced members upon it in our Magazine.


W. T. Pagu.



" BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR NESTS AND EGGS."


Sir, — I see in the review of the second volume of the above work in

the ■Avictcllural Magazine for Octoher, the sentence quoted, "If man would



