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particularly a Great Salmou-crested Cockatoo, whose delight it is to set

up a cry louder than any other exhibit, and one might as well try to still

the tempest as attempt to quiet him when beyond concert pitch. This is

his way of showing his pleasure—unfortunately it is not always appreciated

by the audience gathered round him.


In my opinion, two or three well-managed Shows annually, (Summer

preferably to any other season, when our foreigners would not suffer from

the cold) should find favour with all true fanciers. They are the grandest

of all sights in my estimation, and must necessarily help us as aviculturists,

and have for many years been a great attraction to thousands.


- H. T. T. Camps.


TITS AND NUTHATCHES.


Sir, —While spending my Christmastide at a country rectory I was

much delighted with the tameness of the birds. Outside one of the

windows of the drawing-room, under the verandah, a piece of suet was

suspended in a little network bag. To the feast thus provided came

continually, all day long, a Great Tit, a Blue Tit, a Marsh Tit, and a

pair of Nuthatches. The Nuthatches were also furnished with a little

store of nuts in a hollow log, to which they did full justice, as may be

supposed. The birds were within four or five feet of the window, and did

not mind being looked at by the people in the room. They could be far

better observed than if they were in an aviary.


It seems to me we have here a “branch of aviculture ” which most of

ns are too apt to neglect.


It is generally admitted that the Tits are not suited for captivity, and

will not live long in confinement, even under the most favourable

conditions; but they can be easily induced to approach close to the

house, and can then be well observed from the windows—surely it is

better to content ourselves with thus observing them, and give up, once

for all, all attempts to keep them in either cage or aviary.


Horatio R. Fittmer.



BREEDING RESULTS.


Sir, —We have had, in several numbers of the Magazine, tlie'particu-

lars of the breeding results of various members during 1895. I, for one,

have read them with pleasure and interest. Thinking it may be interesting

to know what starts have been made this year, I send you the following-

notes of the eggs and young obtained in my aviary up to February 17th,

and hope other amateurs will favour us with theirs.


Three Ribbon Finches, from five eggs, hatched about a fortnight ago

fledging and doing well. Two unfertile eggs.


Two Budgerigars, three hatched from four eggs, one died j^oung; about

three weeks old and will soon leave the nest — two fine nestlines.

Hen about to lay again.


Another pair sitting on five eggs, several are darkened and appear good.

Another pair continually in nest and hen expefited to lay daily.


Five New Zealand Parrakeets’ eggs laid at various times, but all broken

almost immediately, and never two in the nest together. Hen appears

out of condition, which is doubtless the cause.


Several nests built, and some half dozen eggs laid.by u pair,of Zebra Finches,

no young reared—.one hatched, but disappeared almost immediately.

I rarely succeed with these birds. . A. Savage.



