The hens moulted concurrently with the cock, the moult

in their case being a little more protracted.


The hens sing, though their song is neither so sustained

nor so varied as that of the males.


It would be interesting if those who keep the Avadavat

indoors would publish their data—as these birds in a state of

nature moult somewhere about February or March, whereas

mine have moulted regularly in December, it would appear as if

this variation had been brought about by climatic conditions ;

though one would have looked for the opposite : i.e.. Summer or

early Autumn for the moult instead of December.


I attribute my success in moulting them out of doors in the

Winter, to their so readily eating the soft food and mealworms.

I use Abraham’s, Arthur’s and Maschke’s soft food alternately,

with a liberal addition of ants cocoons.



CORRESPONDENCE.



BIRDS OF KUMASI, WEST AFRICA.


Sir,—I send 3 7 ou a few notes in the hope they maj^ be of interest.


When I was in Kumasi in May, of last year, I made the acquaintance

of an old chief, who ruled an outlying district, and by dint of much

explanation, I got him to understand that I was interested in birds, and he

promised to send me some. He first sent me a very large Hornbill, which

was a great pet for some weeks till a young Blotched Genet, that used to run

about 1113’ hut, one day made an end of him. He had an extraordinary trick

of swallowing a large bead I had on my table, and then when I held out my

hand he would return it in such a solemn fashion that all my visitors used

to be vastb’ amused. That he really swallowed it I know, for I could feel it

in his crop.


Shortly after, a part3 7 came in from my friend the chief, bringing a

couple of Touracos: they were the Thick-billed Touraco and were exactly

the same as the Senegal Touraco in colouring, but were a trifle larger, and

had yellow beaks instead of red. Well, one died but the other did well

and is still alive: he survived a journey in a cold room up the channel in

Februar3^ of this year, so must be pretty tough. I gave him to Mr. Housden

and hope he will like him. This bird is commonly called the ‘ Clock bird’

on the Coast, from his habit of going off like an alarum clock at dawn ;

mine always did it when I was at Cape Coast Castle, and always preceded

his gruff note of ‘ hough-hough-hough ’ ad lib. with a shrill ‘ kik.’ The

power of swallowing is enormous for the size of the bird, half of a large

banana slips down his gullet with the greatest ease. Mine was a most

cleanly bird, and so tame that he alwa3 7 s tried to get into 1113' tub in the

morning as soon as I poured it out, even if I was in it myself: I might add

he was nearty alwa3 7 s loose.


I11 the wild state the3 7 are ven 7 SI13 7 birds indeed, and although when

on column I have heard their cn 7 sometimes twenty or thirty times in the



