Correspondence.



229



THE BLUE CHAFFINCH OF TENERIFFE.


Sir,— Mr. Astiey’s interesting account of the Teydeau Chaffinch in

the May number of the Avicnllural Magazine calls for some slight

correction. Fringilla teydea is entirely confined to the Pine Forest district of

Teneriffe. There is a closely allied race inhabiting the Pine region of Gran

Canaria, but it is very rare.


There is no possibility of F. teydea being found in Fuerteventura,

neither it, or any other Chaffinch conld possibly live there, as with the

exception of a few Date Palms there is no forest of timber. I know the

Islands intimately well, and am certain of it.


A full account of F. teydea as an aviary bird, with notes on its

breeding in own aviaries, appeared in Vol. I. of the Avicultural Magazine,

page 103 (1S95). E. G. B. Mkade-Wai.do.



SEXUAL DISPLAY.


SrR, — I witnessed, to-day, a sight which struck me as being so

comical and curious as to be, possibly, worthy of record.


When in the flight of the Western Aviary at the Zoo, next to that in

which the Streaked Laughing Thrush f Trochalopterum l meat-urn ) is, I

observed him to be in full and active display. His feathers were all puffed

out in the “petticoat” form in which those of Lawes’ Bird of Paradise are

in similar circumstances, and his short little wings were extended much in

the manner of those of the Greater Bird of Paradise when he shews off, and

he was pirouetting on the perch. I watched him at a distance of three or

four feet only, for fully half-a-minute, and .made myself absolutely certain

that the object of his attentions was — the Long-billed Butcher-crow ( Baiita

destructor).


The Laughing Tliursh is a friend of comparatively long-standing and

always comes down to my hand, but so occupied was he on this occasion

that I had to wait some little time before he descended. When he did come,

however, instead of paying his usual attention to my mealworm, he faced his

love and continued his display from my finger.


O11 other occasions I have seen instances of misplaced affection

between birds, e.g. between a Rifle-bird and a Toucan, a Grey Struthidea and

a Black Hangnest, &c. ; but a less promising flirtation than this I never

have observed.


Bailey, the keeper, to whom I told what had happened, suggested that

the bird had assumed a fighting attitude in connection with mealworms and

the donation of them to other birds; but I am convinced that the posture

was an amorous and not a combative one, because, not only had I not fed

any other bird within the Laughing Thrush’s view, but, when I offered him

a mealworm he was indifferent to it. Arthur Denman.



