28



Stray Notes



we took in the first birds we bred, how delighted Ave were when the

first young Cockatiel or Budgerigar made its appearance into the world,

and hoAV eagerly we read up every scrap of published information

on the subject that \A r e could find. Greene and Gedney were the two

authorities we placed our faith in, and to these two pioneers great

credit is due for having implanted a love of aviculture in many of those

who are now quite old hands at it.


Early Successes and Failures. — Do not let us forget that a new

generation of aviculturists is springing up, and let us give them freely

of our experience. Let us write of our early successes and failures

instead of waiting until we think we have qualified for a medal.


The Bengalese.— Mr. Taka-Tsukasa’s article which is com¬

menced in the present number reminds us that Japanese and Chinese

birds have practically disappeared from the European bird market

since the war. The little Bengalese in its three varieties has not been

seen for years. It is an extraordinary little bird which is happier

in a small cage than anywhere else. It nests freely in any cage, and

if you keep a number together the hens will all lay in the same nest

and rear their young indiscriminately, and if you like to change their

eggs for those of any other small ornamental Finch they do not mind,

but will carefully hatch them and foster the chicks as if they were

their own.


Japanese Aviculture. —The Japanese appear to be getting very

keen on aviculture, according to Mr. Taka-Tsukasa, and we think our

members will be interested in his article, which will be continued in

the next number. We much hope that British aviculturists are not

becoming less keen, but we fear their numbers are considerably less

than they were before the war. An exchange of experiences between

the Japanese and ourselves will be very useful, and we hope will

stimulate both.


Snow Geese. —The Zoological Society has acquired from Mr.

BlaaiiAV a very nice pair of Ross’s Snow Goose (Chen rossi ), which is

much the smallest of the three or four forms of Snow Geese. It occurs

in Arctic America, migrating south as far as Western California in

winter. The Snow Geese are rather puzzling. There are the three

white forms which differ from one another only in size. The largest,



