186



Correspondence.



I have also a note on the autumnal moult of this particular bird. 10

Sept., 1910. “ Cock Blackstart is now in grand colour after moult; rich black


on throat and upper breast and some white on wings.”


I noticed also in ‘‘Canary and Cage-bird Life” that Mr. Allen Silver

stated that he knew of a Blackstart now moulting. Here, then, we have

evidence that males of this species sometimes have a vernal moult, but I do

not say and I do not think that (at all events as far as those individuals which

winter in Europe are concerned) this moult is of frequent occurrence. On this

point I have obtained some definite evidence from Mr. E. Taylor, who now has the

two young males which I bred last summer. He says: ‘‘I have now had six

young cocks within the last five years, including the two I obtained from you,

and have never had one yet that had a spring moult or change of plumage : the

two I have at present have not dropped a single feather so far this year though

they moulted their body feathers last autumn.” I may mention, however, that

Mr. Taylor’s birds have always been moulted in a cold room in a cold climate,

(Glasgow) whereas mine have been moulted in heat, and some heat seems to be

necessary to obtain a full and natural moult — of insectivorous species at all

events.


With regard to the question of the exact age at which males assume the

perfect adult plumage, I note that Mr. Ticehurst says : “ Here is an opportunity

for aviculturists to decide.” It is very satisfactory to find that there is, in his

opinion, just one little brick which aviculturists can add to the stately edifice of

ornithology, but he has evidently overlooked the fact that this particular brick

was turned out rather more than one hundred years since, and by an aviculturist

(Bechstein). I can confirm the latter’s statement. I obtained the old male

(mentioned in my notes) at the end of 1909 in his first winter plumage. In the

autumn of 1910 he assumed adult plumage and his colour was good (as may be

inferred from my note above) but, after his third autumnal moult, the area of

black and the white wing patch were larger and the colour deeper. After his

fourth autumnal moult the white wing patch was larger still but the black on

the breast was not so deep, which is perhaps due to his having been moulted

last autumn in a cold bird-room. Our member, Mr. Galloway, tells me that he

considers that some Blackstarts attain their full beauty at their second autumnal

moult, but I do not think that he has had the opportunity of watching one particu¬

lar male for three years as I have, and I think he has overlooked the fact that

when he saw this male in my bird-room last October he told me he had never

seen a larger wing patch.


W. E. Teschemaker.



BOX-TREES FOR SMALL BIRDS.


SIR, — I should be much obliged if you would kindly inform me whether

Box-bushes in an aviary would do any harm to small foreign finches, such as

Cordon Bleus, Avadavats, South African Weavers, etc. in an outdoor aviary ?


Sybil Miller Mundy.



