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FOOD FOR INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS.


Sir, —Possibly some readers of the Avicultural Magazine have ex¬

perienced a considerable difficulty in getting a supply of suitable insedts for

their pets, especially in winter. I have, at the cost of no little time and

correspondence, collected the addresses of seven or eight people willing to

supply cockroaches at a reasonable price, (4dto 5d per ioo); and, as these are

a most valuable staple for large birds, I think the members of our Society

might be glad to know where they can obtain supplies. I will willingly

send a list of names and addresses of cockroach vendors to anyone enclos¬

ing a stamped envelope for the purpose. Of course I cannot vouch for the

character of all those on my list; but I have found those among them who

have supplied me quite satisfactory. M. Wieeiams.


io, Lansdown Crescent, Bath. (Mrs. Eeseie Wieeiams.)



BUDGERIGARS.


Sir, — It may not be uninteresting to the members of the Avicultural

Society to read the following facts regarding a nest of Budgerigars I have

had during the past season. I had some fourteen or fifteen in an outbuilding,

which I wanted to remove into a large outdoor aviary I had erected, but

one pair had a nest of three young ones which I did not wish to disturb. I

safely removed about half of them, leaving the parents behind to look after

the family^, but in removing the second lot on the following night I was not

so fortunate, for amongst those I caught were the parents of the young birds.

This I did not find out until that night, the following day, and the next

night had passed, then I discovered the poor little things were getting no

food. I cut down the cocoa-nut husk, took it into the new aviary, cut it

open upon the seed table, and awaited the issue. No sooner had I got a fair

distance away than the parents flew to the young ones, and there was a

most comical scene : such fluttering, and kissing, and chattering, as made

it most amusing; but what I think remarkable was the fact that the young

had been two nights and a day without food, and yet appeared not to have

suffered ; the old birds fed on, and they were quickly able to take care of

themselves. Norman H. Jones.



THE RUFOUS-NECKED WEAVER.


Sir, — Will you tell me the name of a large Weaver (?) bird which I

will endeavour to describe accurately ?


It is nearly twice as large as an Orange Bishop, with strong black

beak, large dark flesh-coloured claws, black head shading off at the neck

to something like the dark colour in the front of a Paradise Whydali’s

neck. The body is yellow with a slight greenish tinge, becoming a little

lighter towards the tail, which is light olive-green. The wings are light

olive-green with darker markings, somewhat like the wings of a Mountain

Finch in the position of the markings. The eyes are red with black or

dark-brown pupils. The size is between a hen Cardinal and a Mountain

Finch. It is very fierce and quarrelsome. Eucy E. Phieeips.


The following reply has been sent to Mrs. Phillips : —•


Your bird is undoubtedly the Rufous - necked Weaver, sometimes

called the Texter Weaver (Hyphantornis cucullatusj. I have kept this

species in an aviary; its chief interest consists in the marvellous nests

which it weaves. A. G. BuTEER.



