Correspondence, Notes, etc.



ii 7



following reply has been sent to Mrs. Gorter.


It is a most interesting fact that a Java Sparrow should pair up with

a Goldfinch, as they are representatives of two supposed families—the

Ploceidce and Fringillidce, which differ in the relative length to its coverts of

the so-called bastard primary.


In the Ploceidce this tiny quill is longer than its coverts; and it is the

rule for the species to build cave-like nests : in the Fringillidce the quill is

quite as large, but it is shorter than its coverts; and it is the rule for the

species to build open cup-sliaped nests.


By all means put up the birds in a breeding-cage, and do your utmost

to breed from them. You had better grow some rape-seedlings, and supply

both these and egg-food for rearing the young, should any be hatched. Do

not forget the cuttle-bone. A. G. BuTr.ER.


PADDY-RICE FOR FINCHES.


Sir, —In the Avicultural Magazine for December 1S97, I pointed out

that, being unable to obtain paddy-rice for a pair of Pin-tailed Nonpareils

then in my possession, I had substituted oats with most satisfactory results.

From that time to the present I have never troubled to secure paddy-rice

for any birds which, in their wild state, feed largely upon it; for experience

has satisfied me that whole oats are greedily eaten by them all, and answer

every purpose equals well, if not better.


It is certain that what may be a natural food for a bird when at

liberty, is sometimes no better than poison to the same bird when in cap¬

tivity. It is also true that what is one bird’s meat is another bird’s poison ;

so that if a man argue that a Canadian Grosbeak could not be poisoned by

mountain-ash berries, because his British Thrushes eat the same freely

without ill-effects, his opinion is of no value to any man of wider experience.


A. G. BuTPER.



AN AGED NAPOLEON WEAVER.


A Napoleon Weaver has just died in Dr. Butler’s aviary at the age of

at least sixteen years.


THE YOUNG OF THE TOURACOUS.


Sir, —With regard to the young of the Touracous, it is not quite cor¬

rect that they were quite unknown until Mrs. Johnstone’s recent success—

an epoch in aviculture —■ in breeding one. In his work on “ British

Central Africa” Sir Harry Johnstone states (p. 333) that he has reared from

the nest the young of two species, Turacus livingstoni and Gallirex chloro-

chlamys. About their condition he says “The young birds when born

appear to be covered with a dark bluish grey down. Though rather

sprawling they can crawl about on their legs from the first, and have more



