Correspondence , Notes , etc.


CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.



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THE INTERNATIONAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS.


The full programme of the forthcoming Congress, containing all

information likely to be of use to those who intend to participate, has now

been issued and forwarded to all who have already signified their intention

of being present. Copies may be obtained on application to Mr. Bonhotk,

Fen Ditton Hall, Cambridge. It is intended, if possible, to arrange for a

meeting of the members of the Avicultural Society during the Congress.


THE MUSKY LORIKEET ; AUSTRALIAN FINCHES.


Sir, —I am writing to ask if you can kindly identify a Parrakeet for

me, it may be a common one but I have never seen it before, nor can I find

it in the Avicultural Magazine, of which I have all the back numbers not

out of print. I have written for Mr. Seth-Smith’s book and shall doubtless

find it there, but am writing on the chance of its not being there. The

man I got them from said they came from Australia and called them

Keith’s Parrakeets, a name I have never heard, and which probably is only

used in Australia. I got some Star and Blood Finches and had some

difficulty in finding out their English names. Long-tailed and true Masked

Finches were also received under the one name of Masked Finch. I must

say that Star is a better name than Rufous-tail ; rufous is vague and to

my mind covers too much ground in the colour line, besides, the little

silvery spots are very star-like. Blood has an ugly sound but it does hit off

the colour exactly, and from most accounts seems to fit in with the bird’s

morals.


However, to get back to the Keith’s. General colour grass green,

band on forehead passing through the eyes to and on the ear coverts—

bright red, on top of head between the red-light blue, 011 back of neck

extending to inter-scapular region—glossy chestnut brown, a small stripe

down from the shoulder on sides of breast bright yellow. Size, a bit smaller

than a Cockatiel, but more the shape of a Blossom-liead, except as to tail,

which is wedge-shaped at present in all my four birds and does not look

like changing. Tail, green feathers black shafted with black tips. When

the tail is spread out in anger, as it often is, there appear to be some red

feathers near the base showing through when looked at from above, but

there is no red to be seen underneath. The breast is the same grass green

but looks as if the feathers might be yellow, tipped with green. Bill

reddish black with red tip. I can send fuller details if required.


At present they are in the same aviary cage (14ft. by 3ft. by 5ft. high),

with Rosellas, Many-colours, Javas, Pekin Robins, &c., till the aviary is

ready for them, getting the same food. It was very cold when they arrived

up here and they felt it a bit, but are quite fit now. At first they fought a

good bit amongst themselves, much noise and no damage, but they were



