Correspondence



183



CORRESPONDENCE


VIOLET-EARED WAXBILLS AT LIBERTY


Sirs,— A pair of Violet-eared Waxbills at liberty have survived the

recent severe weather without harm ; they seem to stand cold better

than any Waxbills I know, but I have never been able to get them to

thrive in captivity.


Tavistock.


THE KAGU (RHINOCHETUS JUBATUS)


Sirs,— I have lately been fortunate in obtaining two Kagus,

which are probably male and female, and also probably bred by

Mr. Heumann in New South Wales. They are in immature plumage,

a dull grey, the wing coverts being barred with rusty-brown. The bird

that I take to be the male is of a purer grey than the other, and is more

masculine in appearance.


I believe that the eggs of the Kagu have a strong resemblance to those

of the Rail family, and are reddish buff with brown and grey markings.

Is the French Government taking any steps to strictly protect this most

interesting bird in its native haunts in New Caledonia % The Australian

Government might have some turned down in a sanctuary in Australia.

Is such a wonderful bird to be exterminated \ It is a long-lived

species, and the only representative of its genus, and breeds in captivity.

Let aviculturists and ornithologists bestir themselves to keep the Kagu

from everlasting destruction, before it is too late.


Hubert D. Astley.


Brinsop Court, Herefordshire.



THE CAPE BISHOP


Sirs,— In reply to Dr. Hopkinson’s inquiry as to these birds, I fancy

that a few of them have come over lately, but several varieties of

Weavers are offered by the dealers from time to time as Cape Bishops.

About eighteen months ago Gamages had a cage of large Weavers

that they described as Cape Bishops. I bought four of them, two in

colour and two in eclipse. These birds were heavily and stockily built,

and were about the size of the Rufus-necked Weaver. Colour a rich

black, with the back and wing-coverts rich yellow, and this colour,



