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Co? respondence.



Possibly the birds might breed better if turned out; in this case

would it be too early in the year to put them outside ?


The lowest temperature in the outdoor aviary at night is not at

present ever lower than between 50 0 and 55 Q .


The following reply has been sent lo Colonel Fortescue :—


I am strongly inclined to think your Lovebirds have been disturbed.

I have found these birds shy sitters, and if the eggs were left too long, the

young would die in the shell and the nest would be deserted as you describe.


I11 the early days of sitting, if the hen were disturbed or frightened,

it would not matter much, but just when the young are due to hatch, it is

of great importance, as they die quickly if the eggs get cold.


If you turn the birds outdoors, a warm morning must be chosen, with

every probability of a warm night; it would, too, be advisable to keep them

in an unheated room for a day or two before turning them into the aviary,

so that they would feel the change less.


The cocoanut husk should be hung in a sheltered place in the aviary,

and in all probability, the birds will nest successfully.


Marion Johnstone.



THE SEX OF STANLEY PARRAKEETS.


Sir,— 111 the May number of the Avicnllural Magazine, you have a

letter from Mr. Arthur, of Melksham, concerning the Stanley Parrakeet, in

wdiich he stated I assured him, when he bought a pair about thirteen

months ago, that there was no difference between the male and female.

This statement is incorrect; I told him at the time there was as much

difference in the sexes of the Stanleys as there is in the Many-Colours.


W. H. Payne.



THE NEW APPOINTMENT AT THE ZOO.


The regret which all our members will feel 011 parting with Mr.

Setli-Smith as our 1 Editor, will no doubt be considerably modified by the

knowledge that the duties which have caused him to resign the Editorship

are those of Bird Curator and Officer of Works at the Loudon Zoological

Gardens, which he has now undertaken.


The personal qualities which have made Mr. Setli-Smitli so popular

with all of us in his Editorial capacity, to say nothing of his avicultural

experience,will be of even more service to the avicultural community in his

greatly widened sphere of activity at the Gardens; indeed, his appointment

there is the greatest avicultural event that has happened of recent years,

and we may justifiably look to him for a renewal of the old days when the

Loudon Zoological Society stood in the van in matters avicultural.



POST MORTEM EXAMINATIONS.


Canary. (Miss Hutchinson). The bird died of hsemorrhage.


Answered by post:


Mrs. Johnstone. Mrs. Noble. Lady Morsliead.


Arthur Giee, M.R.C.V.S.



