260



Correspondence , Notes, etc.



a very beautiful finch, a native of Queensland, described by Gould, but then

not yet seen alive in Europe.


As I wrote my treatise on Foreign Cage Birds by request, and under

peculiar circumstances, and ceded my interest in the first and subsequent

editions to the publishers before I bad written tlie first line, I have, andean

have, no possible objection to a new edition, whether reprinted, or a sale at

a reduced price of the remaining copies of the original work.


Whilst I have every reason to be pleased if what I wrote very long

ago has still some interest for those who care for or keep foreign cage

birds, I may be permitted to say that I thought my treatise had been

superseded by more recent works on the subject, notably by Dr. A. G.

Butler’s fine work and by Mr. Setli-Smith’s book on Parrots, for it should

be understood that what I wrote was penned fully 25 years ago.


It is very curious, however, that since that rather remote period only

two species of Finches have come on the bird-market which were not

known then, viz., the Long-tailed Grassfincli and the Gouldian Finch.


On the other hand, many kinds which were to be seen fairly often 30

years ago, have become extremely rare now. I described many birds from live

specimens then in my collection, which cannot be obtained now at any

price, whilst when I was a buyer of rare foreign birds, I could find them

occasionally without paying extravagant sums for them.


But it is fair to add that for the first pair of Liothrix which came

into my hands some 30 years ago, I had to pay ^10, whilst now any number

can be bought from 5s. to 10s. per pair.


Some of the Waxbills have become so cheap that I fear it i cheaper

for those charged with their transport to face a large percentage of loss

during the voyage and whilst on sale, than to take much care of the well¬

being of the poor little birds.


If the cheaper edition of my old treatise puts the book within reach

of dealers and bird catchers in the Colonies and induces them to bring over

varieties which have become rare in the market and would fetch a

remunerative price, instead of sending thousands of common small

Waxbills, where hundreds would satisfy the demand, I should be very

pleased.


Those who have seen my book will have noticed that the plates are

rather unequal, though drawn by the same artist. The cause of this may

now be stated. Some of the plates had been designed and were actually in

the press before I had any idea of writing the book. These were drawn

from stuffed specimens. Subsequently the artist drew the birds from live

specimens in my collection, or which I procured on loan for the purpose.

I leave it to those who are interested in bird portraits to find out which

plates were drawn from living and which from stuffed birds.


A. F. Wiener.



