Correspondence , Notes , etc.



289



I see 11 Dr. Butler’s “ Foreign Birds,” that “ hybrids between a cock

Bicheno and lien Zebra Finch; cock Parson Finch and a hen Bengalese

have been bred, and I thought I would send this to you, as you ask for any

interesting facts.


I should also mention that these same birds built a huge nest of

grass and roots in some branches in the flight, the hen Bengalese sitting

inside and assisting to twist the grass brought by the other two ; then they

left this and made the one inside the aviary. Heeen G. Bromet.


[We are much obliged for the above interesting notes, and hope all

our members will freely record their experiences.—E d.]



TOYS FOR PARROTS.


Sir,—T here is one point about the Parrot community which I have

not seen mentioned in letters about cage birds and it is, I know, a point

that many keepers of a wretched and solitar} T Parrot or Cockatoo never

think of, namely, providing their prisoner with toys. A splendid Lemon-

crested Cockatoo, a member of a family I know well (I cannot speak of her

in any other terms!) is given all sorts of toys, and my Yellow-nape also,

empty cotton reels especially if presented in a blown-out paper bag, cinders,

a lump of rotten wood, also, if possible, done up in a parcel, sticks of

wholesome wood with the bark on, a bit of tape tied to the wires to pull at,

etc., etc., post cards, and so on.


“ Cocky,” from whom I learn these ideas, is now quite forty and a

most flourishing person. Possibly, if you think it worth while, you would

insert a suggestion to the effect in our Magazine. I am sure it would

bring pleasure to many a bird. (Mrs.) M. Wieeiams.



NESTING NOTES.


Sir, —I was unusually lucky last year, rearing many birds in my

aviaries, but I feel sure it was owing to the warm summer. There are a

number of birds in my aviaries, so they often get disturbed.


This year the Red Cardinals have hatched and eaten one lot or

three already and, on May 17th, have three more in the nest a few days old.

The Green Cardinals have three nice young ones in the nest about fourteen

days old. A tiresome habit the young Red Cardinals have is that of coming

out of the nest at ten days old when they have very few feathers 011, but

the Green Cardinals are very easy to rear, compared with the Reds, as the

young ones stay in the nest till well grown.


The Red-winged Parrakeets are in a separate aviary sitting on four

good eggs. I have two hen Blue Robins, and one has laid three eggs in a

cigar box, but of course they will be no use. Other birds sitting are Grass

Finches, Trumpeter Bullfinches, Zebra-finches and Canaries.


Last year I reared five Blue-winged Love Birds, one Crimson-winged



