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I see my Cherry Finches and Diamond Sparrows are both

busy prospecting. I think the latter have a nest in a quiet

corner, but I shall not look. Fast year I reared a fine nest of

Red Avadavats out of doors ; is not this rare ?


VII. About twenty Zebra Finches, so far, and a lot more

on the way. I bred about forty last season.


The Blue Robins have hatched again and have three fine

3 r oungsters half grown.


In March, my Pekin Robins built a lovely nest, like a

Blackbird’s, in a large elder bush ; but, unfortunately, just at

the critical stage, the poor cock died.


VIII. A curious cross : a hen Common Waxbill has

paired with a Pheasant Finch cock, and they have a nest full of

young ones.


I have just put up my Turquoisiues to breed, and also a

pair of Kings. The man at the shop pulled the Queen’s tail

out, catching her, so they may not breed yet.



CORRESPONDENCE.



BREEDING COCKATOOS.


Sir, —Having but recently returned to England, after many years

residence abroad, I am glad to see by the interesting contents of the

Avicultural .Society’s Magazine, that the number of lovers and breeders of

foreign cage birds is increasing in this country, that my former efforts are

still kindly remembered by some few persons, and that the notes I published

years ago relating my successes and failures in keeping and breeding birds,

have, in some instances, been of use to a new generation of amateurs.


What was once my aviary, tenanted by several hundred foreign birds

of almost ever}- description, has, I believe, been converted by a subsequent

tenant of my former residence into greenhouses, or ferneries or vineries. In

constructing that aviary I had the great advantage of the friendly advice of

an unequalled aviculturist, the late Mr. Vekemans, many years managing

director of the Zoological Garden at Antwerp.


Those readers of the Magazine who think of building an aviary,

would do well if, when travelling on the Continent, they paid a visit to the

Antwerp Gardens. More ideas as regards the suitable housing of birds can

be gathered there, than in any other Zoological Garden I have ever visited.


Of my former collection, only one specimen remains, a small Lemon-

crested White Cockatoo, purchased more than 25 years ago for a very few

shillings. When I bought him he was not a young bird, and I had no

family, he is now the playmate of a grand-daughter; and I hope that he

will live to be the pet of grand-children of my grand-daughter.


This bird had been in my possession perhaps a dozen years, when the

supposed “he” astonished us by laying a series of eggs. At intervals of

several years the same thing has happened since.



