286 Correspondence.



IMPORTATION OF RARE AUSTRALIAN BIRDS.


A member living in Australia hopes to have been able to leave, arriving

towards the end of June at an English port with the following birds,—about

whose permitted exportation from their native country he was doubtful: —

PARROT FINCHES— New Caledonian. New Hebrides. Fiji.


Fire-tailed Finches, and other species more commonly imported.

Insectivorous Birds.


Shrike Tits (Falcunculus frontatus).


White-fronted Chats, “ Ringlets ” ( Epthianura albifrons).


Scarlet-breasted Robins (Petrioca leggei).


Flame-breasted ,, (P. phcenicea).


Rose-breasted ,, (P. rosea).


Red-capped ,, (P. goodenovii).


White-shouldered Caterpillar-eaters (Campephaga humeralis).


White Eye-browed Wood Swallows ( Artamus superciliosus).


Masked Wood Swallows (A. personatus).


Blue Wrens or Superb Warbler ( Malurus cyanochlamys).


Red-backed Wrens (M. melanocepiialus).


Two or three species of Honey-Eaters.


And last, but not least, either in size or quality,


Five pairs of Kagus from New Caledonia ( Rhinochetus jubatus).


The Kagu is, so it is said, becoming extinct.


The Red-backed Wrens have never been imported, and the Blue Wrens are

exquisite. Mr. R. Phillipps bred some in London some years ago. H. D.A.


P.S.-—At the moment of going to press we hear from Genoa of many misfortunes

through storms, and also that a number of the remaining birds were

intercepted there, and taken to Germany !



THE AMETHYST SUN-BIRD (Cinnyris amethystinus).


MR. BROOK writes:—“I am much interested in the account of the

Amethyst Sun-bird in the June Magazine. I am surprised that Mr. Ezra’s do

not take small insects, as mine feed greedily on them. Possibly the fact that

my Sun-birds have access to the open has something to do with this.


“ I am wondering whether C. amethystinus takes two or more moults to

acquire full plumage. My birds—a pair—reached me just over a year ago. The

male was obviously a young bird, but he soon assumed the coloured throat and

head, also showing a few dark feathers on the breast, wings and neck ; but other¬

wise he is still in the light-brown plumage of immaturity.”


The Societe Nationale d’Acclimatation of France has honoured the Editor

by conferring on him a beautifully-modelled and designed silver medal for various

species of birds kept and bred by him.


The Society writes :—“ Nous addressons toutes nos felicitations a

“ M. H. D. Astley en lui decernment notre Medaille d’argent, grand module.”



