Ill



abdomen almost black, thus giving an absolutely false idea of the true

markings. Again, the Parrot Finch would appear to be entirely black.


I fear Mr. Hett will be disappointed when he first opens his printing-

frame to see his photo, of a Kingfisher; being a good “ sitter ” it may be

possible to use “ colour sensitive ” plates (which require a longer exposure

than ordinary plates) but if not, I fear the brilliant blue of the bird’s back

will appear vivid white in the print, and his reddish-brown breast will be

nearly black. However, British birds, as a rule, are not bad subjects for

photography so far as colour is concerned, but unfortunately they do not

much care about being “ taken ” and are not always good “sitters” (e).


I have not tried to photograph a bird in a cage (I don’t like cages),

but in an outdoor aviary I have had fair success with such birds as White-

throated Finches, Jungle Bush Quails, foreign Doves and other soberly-

coloured species.


If such a Club were started as Mr. Hett suggests, I would propose

that it should embrace the photographing of birds and their nests and eggs

in a wild state as well as in captivit}' : it would never do to confine it to

caged birds. D. SeTH-SmiTH.



AGES ATTAINED BY BIRDS IN CAPTIVITY.


Mr. Meade-Waldo’s interesting article in last month’s Avicultural

Magazine has led me to search my memory for cases of unusually old cage-

birds. The following are the only ones worth mentioning which I can call

to mind, and scarcely any of them are very remarkable—they are, indeed,

chiefly noteworthy as negative evidence, and the fadt that the cases of

advanced age within my personal experience are so few and inconspicuous

tends to show that the average life is ver}' short.


In the Avicultural Magazine for November, 1897, a common Barbary

Dove 23 years of age is mentioned. This Dove is still living in the

possession of Colonel Cuthbert Barlow, of Brighton, and is now about 25

years old.


The oldest small passerine bird which I ever saw was a Canary

belonging to my grandfather. This bird was about 16 3'ears old at the time

of its death. It was very tame, and would never settle down for the night

until it had given its master’s finger a friendly peck. If this ceremony

were omitted the bird would fidget about for a long time after dark.


I kept a good many Canaries at one time, but I do not recollect

that any of them lived to attain 12 years. In 1S91 I bred from a yellow

cock which I had myself bred in 1882—there were two young ones which

left the nest, but they were very feeble and both died in their nest feathers.

The father had never bred before.


I had an Avadavat for seven years—this bird became partly white in

plumage.


I have a cock Parson Finch which was exhibited at the Crystal

Palace Show in February, 1893, and which must therefore be upwards of six

years old. The beak is overgrown, the plumage very loose, and the whole

appearance of the bird indicative of advanced age.



[e) I do not mean in the breeding-season.—D.S.-S,



