104



Correspondence.



CORRESPONDENCE.


AVICULTURE IN EAST AFRICA.


Mr. W. G. Pekcival writes from “ Nanza,” Chania Bridge, B.E.A.: I will

try and send some notes, but I am no good at articles. But firstly let me say that,

though keen on birds, I am woefully and wonderfully ignorant about them. It is

only during the last year that I have taken them up again. So far I have only had

one Cossypha ( C . heuglini) yellow breast with black and white eye-stripe—sounds

rather like the one you ask about. I had it for a couple of months, and then let it

go one day as it was a bit seedy. Don’t think we get Peters’ Spotted Fire-finch

just here. The Crimson-ringed, Jackson's, and Pintail Whydahs are, of course,

common, also Brown-shouldered Whydah. I had some Chestnut-breasted Star¬

lings, but let them go. At present my birds consist of the four above-mentioned

Whydahs, Coral-billed Weaver, and Pyromelana xanthomelana, two Thrushes

(T. elgoncnsis), one Rock Thrush, Serins — striolatus and angolensis, a couple of

Starlings, and some common Waxbills.


I had a lot of Sunbirds, but as I could not give them the attention they

need I released them. I had: N. kilimensis — all blue, long tail; Ginnyris acik

cequatoralis — Ruby-throated ; C. kirki — blue back, green crown and crimson

breast; C. falkensteini — Yellow-bellied Sunbird ; N. formosa —Malachite Sunbird.

I hoped to get the other species but gave it up for above reason. Unfortunately

I am not permanently here, so that if I did get a good collection of birds, I should

have to let them go if I went away.


I met in Nairobi recently Major Appleby — Postal Service—from India, a

member of the Avicultural Society, probably known to you. He has brought his

traps, nets, etc., from India: he came out here for a few days and we did a little

trapping together. I gave him a few of my birds, as he is sending one of his men

back to India soon with some.



ENGLISH v. GERMAN DEALERS.


Mr. H. E. Rogers writes: There cannot be a fair comparison between an

English dealer packing for a four or six hours’ journey and a German dealer

packing for a sea and land journey of considerable duration. Investigation upon

these lines would prove that at least there is not more mortality amongst British

exports or imports than corresponding German exports or imports.


It does not become me to criticise the methods of another dealer, though

that dealer is a German; but in some thirty years’ experience I can assure you,

and can prove it by figures, that in many cases the German dealer has been

able to artificially raise prices, monopolise, and maintain those prices, as a direct

result of the preference shown by British purchasers, and, at least in the cases

I have in mind, he can well afford any extra expense he may be put to.


Many years ago the late William Cross introduced Hungarian partridges

and pheasants into England. There was for a year or two considerable loss,

but eventually the business was so organised as to become interesting and very

profitable, the losses by mortality being less than 1 per cent. What happened?

The German or Hungarian came to London, formed a combine of the catchers

and dealers in his own country, monopolised, and put up prices in England.


This business he conducted without even paying any rent, rates, taxes, or



