117


his beak, and had to be crammed. In the end it suffered from some

derangement of the intestines, and succumbed.


A neighbour of mine, last Summer, lost three broods of Shamas from

the same cause — inability to keep up a supply of fresh insedl food. I have

seen it stated that Mr. Phillipps has reared Shamas. If he would be so

kind as to say how he managed this, I feel sure many of our readers would

be grateful (a).


I am inclined to think that it may be best in a similar case to take

the young at a week old, and try to rear them on a diet of scraped lean

meat, egg, and such insects as are obtainable ; but of course it would be

more satisfacSlorj^ if one could help the old birds to carry out their parental

duties.


W. H. St. Quintin.



THE ORNAMENTED LORIKEET


BIRD SHOWS

THE SHAMA AND DHYAL BIRD.


Sir, — May I ask the name of the beautiful Lory at the Palace Show —

" V.H.C., 2,137, Mr. C. T. Maxwell, cock, ^5 " ? Roughly describing it, it

had a rather dark speckled red and black throat, and green back, and, as

regards colouring, took my fancy more than any other.


Might I suggest that at such an important Show (visited by

aviculturists from all parts of the Kingdom, many of whom see some

of the birds for the first time), the label or catalogue, or both, should give

the name of the exhibit. Nearly all Mr. Maxwell's exhibits were just

catalogued " cock," which is no doubt enough for the experienced, but

judging from the host of questions put to me throughout the day that I

spent there, scores of visitors had come up to learn as well as see, and must

have felt equally (.".isappointed with such scant naming of dozens of

beautiful birds.


There were, of course, numerous outsiders drawn by mere curiosity

to see a lot of strange birds, and it is unfortunate for this class of visitors

when the label gets on the wrong cage, which happened in several cases.

I heard a man explaining to his wife that "It was the first time he had ever

seen a Nightingale." Then they began to take an inventory of the bird :

they " Never expected to see such a small bird, and what a dark coloured

head ! " Not wishing them to take home a wrong impression, at the risk

of being thought impertinent, I pointed out that the label had been trans-

posed with that of a Blackcap and that Mr. Gale tenanted the next cage.


May I also ask what is the difference betweu a ShSma and a Dial or

Dhyal bird ? Dr. Greene classes them as the same bird, but I have seen

them catalogued at two different prices in the same list, and can only

suppose the Shama to be an Indian, and the Dial a Malay or East Indian

variety of the same bird. If they are different birds are their habits and

song similar ?


A. A. Pearson.



(a) Certainly — in a month or two. — R.P.



