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Phil was carried down to the surgery, where he was given a very little

chloroform, and his injured leg very skilfully removed with a sharp pair of

scissors. The wound was then dressed, and, after being kept quiet and

without food for some hours, he was sent home.


It is now about ten days since the accident, and Phil is as lively as

ever. He learnt to balance himself splendidly on his perch the same

day as the operation took place, for though we kept the hay in the cage he

refused to go down to it. Mr. Browne feared the shock might kill the bird

rather than the operation, so the garden was searched for dainties to tempt

him to eat : aphides, beetles, and anything else we could find, being

collected for the small invalid. I think this greatly helped to keep up his

strength ; but I should add that for some time he has had phosphate of

iron in his drinking water daily, and is now in splendid health and feather.


Phil sings all day, and makes the best of his misfortune. He essen¬

tially loves human beings more than his own species, and delights to be

talked to and petted : so as he is to stay in the house now, and not go into

the aviary again, he is likelj' to get more than his share of attention.


R. ARDERSON.


CAGE-BIRDS IN CALCUTTA.


Sir, — Having regard to the difficultj^ of procuring choice cage-birds

in South America, complained of b}^ those who have recently visited parts

of that Continent, and given us their interesting experiences in the

Avicultural Magazine, I thought I might well draw attention to the fact that

here, in Calcutta, there is no difficulty in getting good birds if an order be

given.


In the Bird Bazaar can constantly be found, as one would expect, the

best-known Indian cage-birds: such as various kinds of Mynahs, Bulbuls,

Parrots, Weavers, Mannikins,Waxbills, Sliamas, and Dhyals; together with,

generally, Green Bulbuls and Liothrix. By watching the market, however,

or still better by visiting the establishment of Mr.W. Rutledge, Eutally, who

has long been our best-known and most extensive dealer, one may obtain

very good things indeed, such as have rarety or never been sent to England

as yet—I mean such birds as the Blue-winged Green Bulbul ( Chloropsis

hardwickii), Silver-eared Mesia ( Mesia argentauris), Blue-winged .Siva (Siva

cyatiuroptera), White-capped Redstart (Chimarrhornis leucucephala), Black-

crested Yellow Bulbul ( Otocompsa flaviventris), Bengal Pitta (Pitta brachyura),

Minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris), Niltava Flycatcher (Niltava suntara), Verdi-

ter Flycatcher (Stoparola melanops), Maroon Oriole (Oriolus traiUii),with many

other good “soft-bills.” Finches are few as yet, but the Himala3 T an Gold¬

finch ( Carduelis caniceps ), and Siskin (Hypacanthis spinoides), are now to be

had in unusual numbers.


Parrots have been imported into India since the time of Jelianghir,

the native species not satisfying Indian fanciers completely. And it may

interest some members to hear that Forsten’s Lorikeet is the commonest

Lory imported, and has bred in the Calcutta Zoo. There is often a very

good assortment of Parrots, but not being speciall}’ interested in these

birds I cannot say much about them. But many Parrot fanciers would

have been delighted with a specimen of one of the rare Black Lories

(ChaLcopsittacus ) which w f as on view some time back, and was literallj' as

tame as a kitten.



