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‘The fancy’ is not bird culture, but the culture of bird-abortious: it

does not deal with species at all, but only 7 with the variations from species,

which mail’s fancy 7 has selected. The fancier is no more an aviculturist

than the florist is a practical botanist: he deals not with birds , but terato-

logical sports.


There is no fancy 7 about foreign and British birds; it is all hard fact.

If you put up a pair of birds for breeding, you don’t worry about whether

one is sib-bred and another crest-bred ; you know without telling what you

are likely to breed, because you are dealing with birds, not fancies: there¬

fore to talk about the foreign ‘ fancy ’ is to talk of what does not exist.


A. G. Butter.


[This controversy is now closed. I have been glad to be able to insert

every letter forwarded for publication on Mr. Fillmer’s proposed extension

of the scope of the Society. The course which the Council have thought

well to take is announced in the “ Report.”— Editor].



PARROT PICKING ITSELF.


Sir, —A lady living in this neighbourhood called recently 7 and asked

me to see a Double-Fronted Amazon Parrot that she has had three months.

When first sent to her she thought it might be infested with insects, as it

kept pecking its body. Keating’s Powder was rubbed in but did not seem

to do any good. She then put the bird in a warm bath, and well washed it

with Sunlight Soap. The bird is immersed while the washing takes place,

and only the head appears above water. The bird likes being bathed in

this manner, and is in Show condition. As I have never heard of a Parrot

being so tubbed, if you know it is something out of the common, would it

be worth chronicling ? W. T, CaTreugh.


P.S.—Since the bird has been washed in the above manner it has

ceased to peck itself.



“REARING YOUNG BULLFINCHES.”


Sir, —Some weeks ago, in reply to a letter from Mr. Hett asking for

information as to the rearing of some young Bullfinches which were just

due to hatch in his aviary, I suggested eggs, ant’s eggs, live ants, green

food and berries, especially privet if practicable. I herewith enclose Mr.

Hett’s answer relating his success, as you may consider it of sufficient

import to publish. J. L. Bonhote.



Sir,—I have delayed thanking you for your letter of the 8th instant,

until I should have something to report.


On Friday the ioth inst. two young Bullfinches were hatched. I was

not at all prepared for them, but followed your directions as far as

practicable. I tried ant’s eggs from an ant hill, but the other birds paid

much more attention to them than did the Bullfinches. Egg they' did not

seem to touch. An abundance of grouudsell and sow-thistle tops were the

luxury of which they showed the greatest appreciation. Raspberries and

currants (particularly the former) were also eaten. On the ninth morning

one of the birds left the nest. The other which had always been the weaker

was dead. The brancher is now, on its twentieth day 7 , nearly as large as

the parent birds although it is still fed by 7 them. Had I been able to clear



