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So far, I have not bred any ; but if we are to believe the

ease and readiness with which they are said to go to nest, I

ought to have done so long ago ; but then, we do not believe all

that the guides tell us. My own impression is that few are lucky

enough to keep Bichenos alive, let alone breed them. As I have

a small flock, I may be among the lucky few this year and breed

some; I hope I shall. I fancy that, like so many Australian

finches, nearly all the Bichenos that are imported are young

birds in their nest feathers ; as I notice mine change wonderfully

in the colour of their white parts.


Bichenos are very apt to “ go light” when they first come

over; so that it is well in buying them to feel the breast bone,

as if it is at all sharp , they are “going home shortly.” They

require to be very gradually hardened off, or you will infallibly

lose them.


For those who, like myself, admire something that is

wonderfully beautiful, rare, and difficult to keep, I say, try

Bichenos. To the ordinary amateur, I would say, let Bichenos

severely alone at any price.



CORRESPONDENCE.



THE LICENSING OF BIRD-CATCHERS.


Mr. Setli-Smith is, possibly, not aware that the Secretary of State

lias power, upon the application of the County Council, to make an

order for the protection of any species beyond the statutory close time, in

the whole or any part of the County. I believe I am correct in saying that

under orders already in force the Goldfinch is protected until the 31st of

August in London, Middlesex, Devon, Isle of Wight, Anglesea, Carvarvon,

East Suffolk, Durham, North Riding of Yorks., Huntingdon, Isle of Ely,

Liberty of Peterborough, all three divisions of Lincolnshire, and East

Sussex. This list is not exhaustive, for I think some recent orders are not

included.


To turn to the subject indicated by the heading, I should be glad to

receive suggestions as to the practical form which the scheme should

assume. In particular, I should like to elicit the opinion of members upon

the following points :—(1) What shall be the cost of the annual license ?

(2) Should dealers in foreign birds be licensed as well as dealers in British

birds ? (3) How should a dealer be defined, and what provisions would be


required to prevent any interference with the sale of birds by unlicensed

amateurs ?


Would it not be possible to prohibit the sale of cages under a certain

size, and make the use of such cages illegal after (say) three years from the

passing of the act ? And could not every licensed bird-dealer be compelled

to allow so many cubic inches of cage-space to each bird ?


I have been appointed Local Hon. Secretary for Brighton, by the

Society for the Protection of Birds, and I shall be very pleased to enrol any



