Correspondence.



135



If any part of this letter can be of service to you, pray use it. Kindly

scratch and correct as you see fit, or cast into the waste basket. All I want is

to show a bit of good will, that’s all.


Yours cordially,


[Mrs.] C. E. Maud.



AUSTRALIAN BIRDS.


Dear Sir, — I am pleased to see the accounts of Australian birds for the

January number, and especially the accounts of their songs ; the notion that

Australian birds do not sing is still held by many to be gospel truth.


I see that in my “Foreign Finches in Captivity” I mention that the

Gouldiau and Chestnut-breasted Finches pair together readily ; this would be an

interesting hybrid to secure, and one. I think, well worthy of illustration when

obtained.


124, Beckenham Road, Yours very sincerely,


Beckenham, Kent; A. G. Butler.


December 12th, 1917.



AVICULTURE IN AMERICA.


Mr K. Woodward writes : One of your far away members wonders if a

letter from “ over here ” would be welcomed by the Editor now that so many of the

older and experienced writers have sterner duties to attend. Aviculture as practised

in England does not exist in this country. We have no large private aviaries, no

magazines, and no shows to speak of. Some people keep a bird or two, generally

a canary. Some more than that, but those having twenty or over can be numbered.


This year our show is off. War material has to be shipped, and express

companies are not guaranteeing the arrival of poultry at the exhibition, so the birds,

cats, and cavies, which are exhibited at the same time and place, are knocked out.

Nevertheless, our little display each year produced 300 birds in the shelves, many

roller collections, and flight cages for exhibition. Ribbons were awarded in each

class, and trophies for the best bird and other specials. Breeding, as you can

imagine, is not a thriving industry; birds are not kept largely or out of doors in

natural surroundings, only Zebras, Minas, Javas, Grass Parakeets, Japanese Nuns

and the like are brought up in the bird room.


My own birds (sadly depleted now that the war has stopped importations)

live in cages 6 by 6 by 4 and somewhat similar measurements, having twigs,

nesting boxes, cocoa-nut husks, and bathing water all the time.


It was in the above cage, with forty birds therein, that a Yellow Grass

Parrakeet was reared by papa, the shock of its birth having killed mamma. How he

did it, with Rosellas, Love Birds, Weavers, and other inquisitive species and in

such a crowded “ tenement,” has always mystified me. The only help father

received was to have all the other birds, principally Japanese Robins, brushed

away from six meal-worms which were given every morning. This was the only

time that father was ever tame. He can’t be caught now without a net and a

fight. January and February, with snow outside and cold, was the time it

happened.


The little Finches in another cage lay fresh eggs all the time, but no one



