l82


■do -with the main question. Surely there must still be a large number of

members who can and will contribute something of value and interest to the

discussion ?


I think that novices sometimes overlook the importance of making

the food of a proper consistency. It is essential to a good food not only

that the materials should be right but that it should be properly prepared.

Generalh^ speaking, food for "soft-bills " should be " crumbly-moist," and

never sloppy on the one hand nor sticky and claj'-like on the other. Nor,

again, should it be a dry powder. Many have a prejudice against milk-sop,

■on the ground that it is too laxative. It certainly is laxative if given either

in too great quantit}', or too slopp}% or sweetened. I make it of powdered

lunch biscuit, on which I pour hot boiled milk, and give it to the birds

ujisiveetened, and fairly stiff (too stiff to find its own level). I never allow

any birds (except Lories and Lorikeets) to live entirely or even chieflv on

sop, but most of mine have a little ever}^ day, and I find that it is miich

appreciated and apparentl}' beneficial. It is a cheap and easy-made food,

and will keep fresh for twenty-four hours. Another cause of non-success

with the more delicate birds is, I think, allowing them to eat white of egg,

which is ver}^ indigestible. Either the yolk onl}' of fi"e.sh eggs, or preserved

■&'g%, should be used.


Horatio R. Fii,i,mer.



THE GANG A COCKATOO.


Sir, — Would some member who ma}' have a hen Gaiiga Cockatoo

kindly sa}' what the colour of its eye is 't


The bird figured in " Parrots in Captivity " is a male, and is repre-

sented as having a bright red eye.


The cock now in \\\y possession has a black eye.


F. G. Du'rroN.



THE " IDEAL " PARROT.


Sir, — I was much interested in the account of " Tony." Nothing

liappens but the unexpected. If there is one species more than another

where I should have said you need never hope to find the " ideal," it

would have been the Alexandrine.


I never knew of one that was not intolerably noisy, at times. I think

the Bengal comes very near the ideal, but for noise; it is lovely, an excellent

talker, and full of character.


It is curious that "Ton}'," who, I presume, was a cock, should have

preferred men. Bengals, certainly, have a strong perception of sex, and so

have "docilis'' — generally the hens can be handled by men and the cocks

■by women. I had a lovely cock Bengal and an exquisite " Jociiis." A

woman could do anything with either, Init the}' could not be trusted with

men.


I should like to know hoza " Tony " was trained to be clean. And

also how he came by his death.


I think the true ideal is most likely to turn up in the Senegal,

Meyer's, or Riippell's Parrots. As far as colour and charm are concerned,

Mr. FuUjames' " Shining Parrakeet " would have done. But he is not a

pocketable bird.



