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Correspondence , Notes, etc.


CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.



NESTING OF TAMBOURINE DOVES.


Sir,—M y Tambourine Doves laid on the 23rd and 25th of July and

hatched out 011 the 6th and 7U1 of August. Unfortunately the young died

011 August 12th.


Is this the first time the}' have been bred ? C. CasTee-Seoane.


The following reply was sent to Air. Castle-Sloane:


In the Magazine N.S., Vol. II., pp. 100, 101, I have recorded the

hatching of a young Tambourine Dove in my bird-room, which lived until

nine days old; when the parents ceased to feed it, and I found it dead in

the nest. You will see therefore that my bird lived four days longer than

yours. Since that time no eggs have been hatched. A. G. BuTEER.



TERMITES AND ANTS AS FOOD FOR BIRDS.


Sir, —The remarks of Dr. Butler in the Magazine for July concerning

the use of “dried flies,” and dried “ ants’ cocoons” as food for insectivorous

birds reminds me of a matter I wish to ask about through the Magazine.

Since coming out again to India, I have started a small aviary. It has

a fairly large outside flight and doubtless many flying and creeping things

are captured by my insectivorous birds there. I give in addition a daily

ration of the young of the “ white ant.”


Those of our members who have been in tropical climates will need

110 description of these insects, suffice it to say that for their size there is

nothing in the world so destructive. I11 fact, with the exception of their

being a capital food for insectivorous birds it is difficult to discover any use for

them in the scheme of creation. These insects raise great mud pyramids

inside of which, and generally below ground level, they make their nests.

The nests themselves are composed of a very delicate paper-like comb

which, on being broken open, is found to contain a seething mass of pure

white young ants. These the birds eat with avidity.


There is, however, another species of insect which is even more

greedily devoured. It is about J to \ an inch long and has four gauzy

wings. It appears in the rainy season, generally after heavy rain, issuing

from the ground literally in millions. One short flight is the extent of

their powers, they then drop to the ground and their wings fall off, and as

far as I can make out they get underground as quickly as possible. Now

everything eats this insect. The natives of the country, dogs, Kites, Owls,

bats, frogs, lizards and every bird.


Now I think if one could discover a way to preserve these insects

more or less intact, they would be a most valuable insect food. Could any

of our members suggest any way ? Could they be preserved in syrup like

fruit, or could they be boiled and tinned like preserved meat? Compulsory



