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Sir, —I am so glad to see tlie protest in the Avicultural Magazine

against keeping Swallows in cages. It seems a very needless cruelty. An

imprisoned Lark is also a sad sight, in my opinion. I should like to see our

Society set its face against the confinement of birds so unsuited to cage life.


33. E. West.



Sir, —Allow me to support, very earnestty, Mr. Astley’s reprobation of

caged Swallows. Thos. Turner.



SOME FALLACIES.


Sir, —(1). We are commonly told by our “ guides ” that Australian

Crimson Finches are the most dangerous of birds ; that to put them into an

aviary with other birds means, for the latter, murder and sudden death. I

can assure our gentle readers, from a large and long experience, that this is

not so. Crimson Finches behave in a most exemplary manner in a mixed

collection. I have a pair at the present moment in one of my large aviaries,

and they behave admirably. Again, we are told that the male Crimson

Finch always makes it a point of honour to slay his wife as speedily as

possible. I again assert that this is arrant nonsense. I have had many

pairs, and the)' never offered to fight. I have a pair now, and the}' are like

Queen Elizabeth and Leicester, “ When you see one the other is not far

away.” I can only suppose that in the solitary case where a Crimson Finch

murdered his wife, he was feeling desperately ill ; and this solitary case has

been quoted by subsequent authorities as the normal state of things.

Likely enough, I shall be told that my Crimson Finches are the exception

which prove the rule; but all I can say is that I have had many exceptions.


(2) . Dr. Butler made the astounding statement in the Feathered World,

that Common Waxbills are so delicate that he cannot keep them alive.

Why, I should say that there is no hardier bird imported. I have had my

present pair for years. I don’t think you could kill them by fair means—I

couldn’t. I don’t say what Dr. Butler could do.


(3) . “ Paddy rice is essential to keep Pintailed Nonpareils alive,” is


another wise saw we are asked to believe. My Pintails never see paddy

rice, and they are in perfect health and condition. I never find any

difficulty in keeping them ; nor does my friend Mr. Oates, of Leeds—I

suppose, again, we are “ exceptions.”


(4) . Once more—“ The proper food for Tanagers.” We have had the

greater part of some numbers of our Magazine devoted to this question.

Wondrous diets are recommended—no wonder the Tanagers refused to live.

One gentleman talked about the ripe bananas of Pernambuco. Well, my

Tanagers do very well on bananas out of Leeds Market, and are thankful

for them. I will undertake to keep a Tauager with the greatest ease on

banana and Abrahams’ egg and boiled rice for any reasonable time. I have

Superb and Violet Tanagers, and I had Reds, but I sold them as they were

such murderous wretches—(but that is another story). So far from Tanagers


*■ being delicate, I know of two friends who have, at the present moment.

Superb and Violet Tanagers in outdoor aviaries (October 17th). Of course,

any bird will die if you do not feed it properl} 7 , even a Tanager! (c)


C. D. Farrar.


(c) We have again been compelled to excise a small portion of Mr. Farrar’s letter,

which was calculated to hurt the feelings of a highly esteemed member.— Ed.



