Corresponde?ice, Notes, etc.



213



THE QUAIL FINCH.


Sir, —I was pleased to see in the last issue of the Avicultural

Magazine the illustrated account of the Quail Finch.


In Vol. II., First Series, page 94, a query from me re these birds was

printed and answered by Mr. J. Abrahams on page ill (May, 1896). I sold

the birds then referred to to Mr. Arrowsmith for a good figure some time

after. They laid two clutches of eggs after the above date 011 the floor in

the corner of the room ; first lot consisting of four and a second lot of

five.


In building they used fine moss, thistle-down and hay entwined in

the straggling twigs of plants. They were very seldom to be seen. At the

least noise of a door opening they were the first to dart into their secluded

quarters. The first clutch of eggs appeared to have been trodden on br¬

other birds, as small holes, such as might have been made by toe nails,

showed on examination. The others were, I believe, molested and eaten by

some Ribbon Finches before I could remove them.


One day I found these birds chasing the Quail Finches about the

room. I also saw that the cock Cut-throat had yolk of egg 011 his bill one

morning. The birds were very young when I got them, and became much

brighter after the moult, when they were a fac-simile of the illustration in

last month’s issue. The colours were nicely toned down and they looked

little gems. I have never seen or heard of any others until now.


W. OSBAPDESTON.


THE SIZE AND COLOUR OF AVIARY-BRED BUDGERIGARS.


Sir, —In the March number of the Avicultural Magazine Mr. Wiener

states, on page 182, re Budgerigars: “ It has been found that these birds

bred in Europe are paler in their plumage.” This has not been my ex¬

perience, and I have bred some thousands in the last 25 years. Many times

my season’s young have numbered from 400 to 500. Unless inbred (which

should be strictly avoided), birds bred in outdoor aviaries and properly

moulted, are far superior to Australian imported birds both in size and shape,

and equal the best of them in colour; in fact, imported birds would stand

no chance whatever on the Show bench against aviary-bred specimens.


- Charles P. Arthur.


AVICULTURE AND SCIENCE.


Sir, —When, in 1894, the Avicultural Society was founded by a little

band of bird-lovers (of whom Dr. C. S. Simpson, Mr. R. Phillipps, Dr. A.

G. Butler, and I, were the leaders), the keeping of British and Foreign

aviary birds in captivity was a pursuit which could not lay claim to relation¬

ship with any branch of science. The founders sought to establish friendly

relations between practical bird-keepers and ornithologists, to induce bird-

keepers to adopt the nomenclature and classification of the ornithologists,

and to shew ornithologists that their science could receive valuable help

from bird-keepers. Those who claimed to be both practical bird-keepers



