149



CORRESPONDENCE.



BIRD NOTES.


Sir, —I have a pair of Chinese Ring-necked Pheasants. The hen has

laid to-day (June 14) her thirty-fifth egg this season. Is not this a record

number for one bird ? (a)


I have a hybrid between a German Fancy Pigeon and a Zanzibar

Half-collared Dove, a most beautifully-marked cock bird. This has paired

with a hen Barbary Dove, and has had several nests, but the eggs are

always unfertile.


If any of our members are near Sydenham, I shall be pleased, any

afternoon, for them to see my collection, but should prefer (like my friend

and neighbour, Dr. Butler) a previous appointment. Perhaps Dr. Butler

might have been thinking of my experience, which may be interesting to

our readers.


Some three years ago, my birds were sent to a Foreign Bird Show at

an Exhibition in the North of London. Amongst the large crowds of

visitors, I made the acquaintance of a well-dressed gentleman who seemed

greatly interested in foreign birds. He came several times in the twelve

days the Exhibition was held, and left his card with me, asking permission

to call at Sydenham to see my aviaries. He came, and the second time

brought a lady with him ; but as it was too late to see the birds he said he

would call again, which he did, one wet afternoon. Unfortunately, for me,

while in the aviary, a friend, who was returning home to South Africa,

came to wish me good-bye. I left him in the aviary, saying he had better

wait until the rain had left off; he left a short time after, calling at the

house for his umbrella, and, with many thanks, leaving word with the

servant that he hoped to call and see me again.


The next day I missed a pair of Parson Finches—sometime before I

imported from Queensland 60 Gouldian Finches, with several fine Parson

Finches, these were all in one large cage. My man could not account for

their disappearance. I was then a little suspicious of my visitor, and found

he had stolen a small travelling cage, 10 Gouldians, and the pair of Parson

Finches—the servant noticed he had a small parcel under his arm, done up

in a newspaper. We tried to trace them, but in vain : the name was a false

one.


Some time after, at the West London Police Court, a person was

sentenced to six months imprisonment for robbery. I then found that he

was the one who had stolen the birds, and all that was left was one Parson

Finch. This well-dressed gentleman with light kid gloves was a smart

London thief.


The greater part of my birds will be at the same place next month—

Agricultural Hall, Islington, July 24th to August 8th—at the Triennial

Exhibition held there. I am afraid I may be a little suspicious, this time,

of inviting friends to Sydenham—especially if they are fashionably dressed

in light overcoat, silk hat, and light kid gloves.


James B. Housden.


(a) Mr. Housden informs me that, since he penned these notes, the bird has con¬

tinued to lay daily, the number of eggs being now about fifty.—A. G. B.


A hen Pheasant will frequently lay over fifty eggs.—E. G. B. M.-W.



