2 5 S



Correspondence, Notes, etc.



immediate chief wants are hens of Cutthroats (don’t smile, I have had two

cocks 2J years), and Blood Finches. My wants in the near future will take

up too much room, and many of them will I fear be beyond my pocket,

even if they should be procurable, though I might mention that I fell in

love with Bonrkes when I first read their description many years ago; I am

almost afraid to see one in the flesh for fear of losing an illusion.


I am glad to see that onr Editor suggests the use of the name of

Star-finch. My other letter, by the way, was written before receipt of the

Magazine.


G. A. PERREAU.


Bakloh, Punjab, India, 26th April, 1905.



THE AGES TO WHICH BIRDS DIVE.


Sir, —My little Reddish Finch committed suicide in the water-pan

this morning, May 15th. I have no exact record of the purchase of this

specimen, but I referred to it as in my possession in 1S97 which will give it

at least eight years in captivity. This is a greater age than any of my other

Spermophilcz have attained to, with the exception perhaps of the White-

throated Finch, and is a very fair record for so tiny a bird.


A. G. BuTEER.



BLUE BONNET PARRAKEETS.


Sir, —I should be glad to hear through these columns of any of our

members who may have purchased a pair of the few young Blue Bonnets, im¬

ported in March last, and have managed to keep them alive. During my five

and twenty years of aviculture I have hankered after a pair of Blue Bonnets,

and had at last, as I imagined, attained my ambition, when what was my

disappointment to find on arrival two poor little babies in nest feathers,

with the blue only just appearing on their faces. It was not that I minded

their sombre hues, but I foresaw the difficult}' there would be in keeping

them alive. They seemed, however, fairly healthy (but their pretty, jaunty,

little ways did something to deceive one as to their real condition), and for

theffirst two days we got on pretty well, but at the end of about ten they

were both dead. I was told to feed them on oats and canary, but especially

the former; after a few days they left off touching the oats, and I soon saw

they were only “ cliibbling ” up the canary seed, and not really eating it.

From the first I provided them with fruit, which was soon supplemented with

other things, until by degrees I got a menu of eleven dishes to try to tempt

them if not with one thing then with another, but all to no purpose. When

they would no longer even pretend to eat I recognised they were past hope,

so resorted to cramming as a dernier ressort. Being such babies I thought

artificial feeding was admissible. I made a fine paste of crushed biscuit,

milk, and yolk of egg, and after a little time they did not object to the



