A regular rather than a high temperature is desirable for

foreign birds. If you have to put up with a west room you must

be careful to have a sun blind outside the window.



THE PARROTS AT NORTHREPPS HARE.


“The Gurneys of Earlham,” by Augustus J. C. Hare, is a

work which by no means specially appeals to the aviculturist,

nevertheless, the following extracts from letters published

therein, and which were written by Richenda Buxton from

Northrepps Hall in 1855, will be found interesting by our

readers.


“ The Scarlet Lowry* flew down to greet us from his stand opposite

the drawing room window when we reached home; the other Parrots and

Cockatoos were flying about in great glee. A pair of Cockatoos are sitting

on their two eggs in the box near the chimney; whenever the hen bird

leaves the nest her mate takes her place. The young Cockatoos are

delighted to follow us about the garden.


“ The hay is being made and the school-children are coming to play

in it, and an express was sent to Cromer for plenty of strawberries and

milk for their supper. This has been spread on the lawn, and, as usual,

has quickly attracted the Parrots. The Scarlet Lowrys are in the acacia,

two Cockatoos on the grass, and stealing bread and butter from the

children; many others are walking and screaming around.


“I sat some time under the chestnut tree, much amused by watching

five Cockatoos in full gambols in the beech tree ; apparently the beech-nuts

must be ripening by the attraction they seem to have.”


The fadl that Parrots and Cockatoos were allowed their

freedom in the grounds at Northrepps, is, of course, well known,

but we do not remember to have read any detailed account of

the results of these experiments in acclimatization. Unfor-

tunatety, “ The Gurneys of Earlham ” contains nothing on this

subjedt beyond such incidental references as those which we

have quoted.



CORRESPONDENCE.



THE PALACE SHOW.


Sir, —If we could get a few experienced aviculturists to write such

letters as that of Mr. Phillipps in the April number of our Magazine, we

might reasonably hope, firstly, that the Palace and other Show Committees

would take steps to prevent the recurrence of such mistakes as those

mentioned; and, secondly, that newspapers professing to report important

Shows would send representatives who would at least know a Shama from a



15 Apparently an eccentric way of spelling- “ I y ory.”



