Correspo?idence.


CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.



217



Sir,—A friend of mine in Nepanl lias sent me over recently amongst

other birds, four liill-partridges ( Arboricol-ct iorqueola). These are charming

little birds—three of them orange-throated and the fourth, a larger bird,

white-throated.


I should like to know if the last named is a different variety, or is the

difference merely one of sex or age ?


All the birds seem very fond of perching, and at present I have them

in a run, with a pair of Crimson Tragopan pheasants, where there are

several fir-trees, also some grass, a little brushwood, etc. I feed on small

seeds—chiefly dari, and give maggots occasionally. Can this be improved

upon? I should also be glad to know if these birds are hardy in winter,-

with the shelter of a wooden shed; also, if they are likely to breed, and

whether the young require any special treatment.


It may interest some of your readers to hear that my Partridge--

Tinamous (Noihoprocla perdicaria ), about which a note appeared in the

Avicultural Magazine for last June, have proved able to stand the winter

well: indeed they seem quite regardless of cold. No artificial heat has been

given, and though I have done my best to induce them to take shelter, they

often insist on being outside in awful weather. They have flourished and

grown fat on small seeds and grass; and, to my surprise, very little insect

food seems necessary for their well-being. At present I have not seen any

signs of breeding. C. Barnby-SmiTh.


INHERITANCE FROM PREVIOUS MARRIAGE.


After producing hybrid Ouzels for two years in succession—1905 and

1906, I turned the hen Blackbird loose in the garden. It would seem that

she must have paired with an English Blackbird in 1907 and reared young

which have inherited characteristics of her previous mate—the Grey-winged

Ouzel. This year a Blackbird is to be daily seen in the garden accompanied

by a hen ; he is practically indistinguishable from the male hybrids which I

produced in 1906, having the same red-brown patch on the wings: the odd

thing, however, is that he sings like my Grev-winged Ouzel.


A. G. Bu'l'EER.


DURATION OF INCUBATION OF TURTUR PICTURATUS.


Sir,—I n my notes 011 the Madagascar Turtle-dove, published in th e

Avicultural Magazine for last January, I stated that I did not know for how

long the birds sat; as this is one of the points where the aviculturist has

so much advantage over the observer of wild birds, I think it may be worth

while to supply this omission.


My pair became anxious to start nesting early in the year. I found

the first egg on January 23rd, which had evidently been laid the previous

day, as there was another 011 the next day, these eggs however were broken.



