208



Correspondence , Notes, etc.



In the Congress there is a special Section devoted to Aviculture, and

although this term will embrace domestic forms, such as poultry and

pigeons, yet I hope that a large number of members may not only attend

the Congress in person but communicate some papers on Aviculture proper,

in order that the possibilities and importance of careful observations on

living birds may be brought home to ornithologists in general.


Preliminary notices have been sent round to most of our members,

but I shall be happy to give any further information in my power to anyone

who will be good enough to communicate with me.


J. Lewis Bonhote.


HABITS OF THE BHARDFD TIT.


Sir,—I was much interested with Mr. St. Quintiu’sobservation in the

March number of the Magazine respecting the habit of the Bearded Tit: —

“ It makes a little jump forwards, and scuffles with both feet almost simul¬

taneously, making the sand fly. The object evidently is to uncover morsels

of food.” Of other Passerine birds which do this I have noted the Whydahs

(“ Foreign Finches in Captivity,” ist ed. p. 273) and the Song-Sparrows

(“Foreign Bird-Keeping,” part 1, p. 31). A. G. Buxr.ER.



Sir,—I was delighted to read Mr. W. H. St. Ouintin’s account of his

Bearded-Tits, in the March issue of this Magazine. He is to be congratulated

on having succeeded so far.


I have often been told that these birds have several times been bred

by a gentleman living near London. If this lucky gentleman really exists,

he ought to publish his method, for the benefit of those who are less

fortunate.


The idea of breeding Bearded-Tits was a favourite one of mine long

before I tried it; my ideal aviary for them is not yet built, however.


Having lost twelve birds in three years through panic, wrong food,

and fighting, I considered that I had killed enough ; but since reading the

above-mentioned paper I have been on the look our for another pair.


The cock of my first pair lived with me about a year, by himself; the

last hen lived about the same time, and was found dead one morning, pro¬

bably from a fit, or panic. The worst thing with these birds is, that they

will never take shelter in the covered part of the aviary. One pair were

beaten almost flat by a heavy rain storm in the night.


First I tried to get succinea and pupa for them, also the seeds of the

reed ; but never succeeded in finding any. I used to boil up some mixture

which the birds never went near. I fancied mealworms caused swollen

feet, so these were stopped. Canary-seed, soaked, the}'would not eat. The

last birds were fed upon “Century Food,” mixed with bread, biscuit, or

scraped carrot, maw seed, and crushed hemp being added occasionally.

They do not seem to care much for the “Century Food.”



