Correspondence, Notes, etc .


“THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA.”



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In Volume VIII. of the old series we gave a short notice

of the first edition of this little book, and it speaks well for it

that a second edition has already been called for. The new

edition is illustrated by a number of well drawn line blocks

by Mr. Goodchild, mostly from living birds in the Zoological

Society’s Gardens. The chapters have been re-arranged so as

to bring the birds dealt with into the order adopted in the

Fa 7 ina of British India.


The book (which can be obtained from Mr. R. H. Porter,

7, Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W.) contains twenty-four

chapters, and is very brightly and interestingly written ; and,

although intended primarily for the Europeans in Calcutta, will

be much appreciated by English aviculturists, many of the birds

dealt with being often kept in captivity over here.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.



VARIATIONS IN GOLD AND SILVER PHEASANTS.


Sir,— There is an interesting article in the January issue of the

Avicuttiiral Magazine respecting the variations in the plumage of Golden

and Silver Pheasants. Is it very unusual for the hen to assume the

entire plumage of the male bird ? Some thirteen years ago three little

Golden Pheasant chicks, a few days old, were given me. The mother had

deserted them and they were suffering badly from cramp. With the

assistance of a tame Bantam hen I successfully reared them. They turned

out to be one cock and two hens. One of the hens died about two years

ago in her ordinary brown attire; the other (which from the first had a

slight golden tint on the head) at the next moult was adorned with the

beautiful silky golden crest of her mate and a few yellow feathers in her

brown neck; when she moulted again the breast and lower part of the

back became } T ellow, and at this last moult, the yellow breast was streaked

with scarlet, the collar a very deep orange, barred with black, the mantle

on the shoulders a metallic green, and the wings a beautiful steely blue,

baried with wavy lines of brown. The crest long, silky, and brighter gold

than the cock’s, and the same scarlet feathers in the tail as he has. The

bird was a great pet and exceedingly tame; she was taken ill on Xmas

Day and died the following morning. I am having her preserved as a

curiosity. We thought her more beautiful than the cock, her deep orange



