i6o



commencing to keep birds, I tried various so-called remedies on newly-

imported ones, when the} 7 became “ puffy,” but it was labour in vain.


W. T. CaTPEUGH.


A STRANGE BREEDING-PEACE FOR MEALWORMS.


Sir, —When my bird-room recently underwent a “ spring cleaning,”

I turned out several nest-boxes which had been hanging in one of the

aviaries for a year or two (certainly not more than two years). They were

the ordinary cigar-box nests, and were hanging about nine feet from the

floor. They were, of course, stuffed full of nesting material, but I was

surprised to notice among this a very considerable number of fine meal¬

worms. There were so many that it was well worth while to go carefully

through the rubbish and pick them out, and by doing so I secured about

2CO. The birds in this aviary were not supplied with mealworms, and I can

only suppose that the beetles flew up to the nests and laid their eggs there.


Horatio R. Fiermer.



THE SHAMA.


Sir, —Agreeing entirely with Mr. Pliillipps in his estimate of the

vSllama’s merits, I dissent as to one or two points of treatment.


My bird has come gradually to decline mealworms, apparently finding

the tough skin a hindrance. He pinches and mumbles the worm (or used

to) sipping up the fluid so outsqueezed. The pupa state is rather more

acceptable, and when the beetle emerges it is taken readily ; but cockr

roaches are the one thing needful, my bird swallowed 40 fairly big ones in

a day. No doubt living insects would be most enjoyable, but in our

establishment scalding is practised in deference to worldly prejudice.


I have heard or read that the Sliatna, in his own country, feeds or is

fed on grasshoppers, and our Blattu belongs to a nearly allied family of

insects. Failing insect food entirely, shreds of meat, preferably raw and

lean, are acceptable; ants’ pupae, wet or dry, were seldom partaken of.


Going back to mealworms—Does everybody know that their culture

depends materially on warmth ? Mine are in a tin box very near to a stove,

and progress is evidenced by the abundant exuviae.


Also I supply the Sliama with the flower tufts of the small wayside

grass (Poa annua) which blooms for eight or nine months in the year (bits

of parsley might do), these are thrown up in flask-shaped pellets, including

the external parts of the cockroach rubbed up into small bits.


My two previous birds were accommodated with a sort of cubicle in

a dark corner, as Mr. Pliillipps suggests. My present tenant prefers a perch

in the full light. T. Turner.



TREATMENT OF PENNANT’S PARRAKEET.


Sir, — I shall be very grateful if any member of your Council will be

so good as to give me a few hints as to the feeding and general management

of Pennant’s Parakeet (Platycercuspennantii). I have recently bought a pair

of them, cock and lien, and so far (that is for the last three weeks) they

seem to be doing well enough on a diet of hemp, canary, and sunflower

seed. They seem to prefer the last. This seed, however, which is so freely

given to^ Parrots in Rome, I find no mention of in Mr. Fillmer’s useful



