44



Correspondence



understand that it would not take many “ kneads ” of those terrible

feet to end the life of anything she was likely to catch.


E. G. B. Meade-Waldo.


Hever, Kent.


12 tli March.



THE QUEEN ALEXANDRA PARRAKEET


The following was received by Mr. Astley :—


Dear Sir, —In the October number of the Avicultural Magazine

I see a note by you asking by what right Mr. Mathews takes upon

himself to change the name of the Princess of Wales (Queen Alexandra)

Parrakeet. Please allow me to state that I cordially agree with you,

and often wonder why he is so fond of changing old and well-used

names. You will probably have noticed that he has done it in many,

many cases, and I strongly object to the bird referred to having its

name altered, and quite agree with your article.


Yours truly,


D. Le Souef,


Director.


Zoological Gardens,


Melbourne.



COMPARING REMARKS ON CAPTIVE AND WILD BIRDS


Sirs,—S ome people are inclined to argue that observations made

on foreign birds “ do not show the true character of the species ”.


It seemed to me, therefore, advisable to point out that the remarks

about Forster’s Milvago or Carrion Hawk of the Falkland Islands,

printed in the Avicultural Magazine, 1920, pp. 41-3, were (so far as

character was concerned) supported by observations of two people in

the birds’ native lands. In my remarks on Ihgcter australis it was

evident that the birds were of fearless and daring character as shown

by the words “ A striking feature of these Milvagoes during their

earlier years—especially from about 1900 to 1908 — was their aggressive

temper towards other birds ”, and their hostility to two Eagles ending

with “so that Forster’s Milvago is not deficient in courage”. Their

noisy behaviour was shown by words “ shrieking wildly and



