136 Correspondence.



sits on same, and the next party builds a nest on top until — the boxes full—house¬

cleaning is practised by me.


The English aviaries must be wonderful. The pictures and lists of breeding-

results tell the story. I hope to see them some day.


The above does not apply to the zoological parks, but even here all the

cities I have visited, including Canada, never had any of the smaller birds except

New York. The display at the Bronx Park is complete and tastefully shown.



AVICULTURE AND TAXIDERMY.


To the Editor of the ' Avicultural Magazine.’


Dear Sir, —I herewith tender you an article of mine on the “ Mounted Bird-

Exhibit of the United States National Museum at Washington ” ; it has been pre¬

pared especially for the ‘ Avicultural Magazine,’ and my hope is that you may find

it available for some one of your future issues. I see the Journal at the National

Museum and much admire its excellent qualities.


With best wishes,


3356 Eighteenth Street, I am, dear sir,


Washington, D.C.; Faithfully yours,


October 24th, 1917. R. W. Shufeldt.


[We welcome Dr. Shufeldt’s paper as widening the scope and practical use¬

fulness of aviculture — holding, as we do, that our science is capable of indefinite

expansion, and by no means limited to the mere keeping of live birds. The study

of living creatures is of the greatest service not only to the arts ancillary to

zoology (such as taxidermy) but also to remoter pursuits, such as agriculture and

medicine. We shall return to this subject later. — G. R.J



A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE.


M. Pichot writes : At one time, Virginian Quails were very numerous in the

United States, but they have so far fallen victims to wanton shooters and the

purveyors of the market (“ game-hogs,” as G. 0. Shields so justly branded the

pot-hunters in 1897), that stringent measures have had to be taken to prevent their

utter destruction. On December 17th, 1911, the Executive Committee of the New

York Zoological Society was assembled in the Administration Buildings discussing

the plans for securing a five-year close season for the persecuted Bob Whites, when

a whole covey took up its station under the very windows of the room, the birds

calling loudly to each other. There were eleven of them, and they had been seen

twice before in the park, but on this particular occasion it seemed as if they were a

deputation bringing in a petition, and no doubt their timely appeal carried the vote !



THE PAUCITY OP WILD BIRDS.


To the Editor of the ‘ Avicultural Magazine.’


Sir, —Dr. Butler is fortunate in having seen so many wild birds at

Beckenham ; but, for all that, the serious reduction in their numbers has been, and

is, most marked.


Last winter, in spite of perpetually feeding those that congregated round the

house, Thrushes and Robins died amongst others, and last summer only one pair



