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Sir,— My Senegal Parrot has never properly regained his plumage

since he moulted, a process which lasted an unusual time. All that part

which should be a brilliant orange colour, looks ragged and more white

than yellow. He seems in perfect health, and I should be glad if anyone

can tell me the cause of this, and if anything can be done for it.


C. D. Courier.



The following answer has been sent to Miss Collier —


It sounds as if the bird was plucking itself. I have found what I

thought bad moulting turn out to be that.


I daresay it has plenty of occupation. In case it is weakness, a few

drops of Wyeth’s iron might be added to its water. I suppose it bathes; if

not, it should be sprayed. F. G. Button.



GOULDIAN FINCHES.


Sir,—I shall be glad of some information regarding these beautiful

birds, as three have latelj- come into my possession, and I am unable to

obtain any particulars from the books on foreign birds which I have by me.


1. Is there any marked differerence in the plumage by which one can


distinguish the sexes ?


2. Have the Black-headed Finches ever been mated with the Red in this


country ?


3. Do the birds require insect food in addition to the ordinary seed diet ?


I may add that my three birds consist of two Red-headed and one

Black-lieaded Finches. The two former have a kind of song, but one is

more brilliant than the other in colour. The Black-headed Finch does not

appear to have any song, and I am wondering whether it is a hen, and if so

whether it will mate with one of the Red-heads.


H. E. Goddard.



The following answer has been sent to Mr. Goddard —


At various times I have had over a score of these birds; and, if you look

either at my “Foreign Finches in captivity,’’ or “Foreign Bird-Keeping,”

you will find full accounts, with illustrations, of both varieties of Gouldian

Finches.


The female can be told at a glance from the male, by the pale colour¬

ing of the under-parts : the breast lilac instead of ultramarine shaded with

violet, the abdomen lemon-yellow fading to white instead of saffron-yellow ;

there are other less pronounced differences, but these will suffice.


Black-lieaded hens (invariably, I believe) prefer Red-lieaded cocks ;

one of my earliest hens deserted her Black-headed mate for a Red-head :

this certainly sometimes happens when they are at liberty in Queensland, as

both forms have been shot from the same nest.


No insect-food is required, nor have I ever seen a Gouldian Finch

touch soft-food; but millet in the ear, and grass-seed in the ear, are almost

necessary to the newly-imported examples.



A. G. Butder.



