Correspondence, Notes, etc.



117



is a species of powdered hemp I think, mixed with ghee (clarified butter).

This was squashed into a small jar about three inches high and was of the

consistency of soft cheese, and was only renewed once a zveek. The bird

was in lovely feather and as fat as could be, although he did not eat as

much as a Robin. I fed him on chenna, ghee, bread crumbs, an occasional

scrap of banana and shreds of meat, and earthworms ; and his particular

delicacy was to be given one of the enormous snails which abound in Fort

William, Calcutta : he would spend the whole day digging it out. The bird

was very tame.


I gave him away to the Calcutta Zoo, on leaving India, and he was

very well the last time I heard of him. He fed very freely while with me,

and drank and bathed a lot.


The curious custom of keeping singing-birds in the dark seems

universal in India. A friend of mine had the best singing Sliama I ever

heard. He had had it for years, and during the first few years it was never

uncovered. One day, however, the cover was accidentally left off, and he

found the bird singing hard, so after that the poor little fellow sang in the

sunshine instead of the darkness.


You will hardly credit it but 1113- friend assured me that this Sliama

was fed exclusively on lice. An old native came dai^ with a tin of these

awful vermin, not only for this bird but for various other Shamas in the big

houses round.


I wish I had brought a GreA'-winged Ouzel home. In case aii} r of

your readers should think of sending for one or two, please note that it is

called “ Kostura ” in the East. They are the loudest and most varied

“Whistlers” of any bird I know.


The Calcutta Zoo. is a splendidly run place. The bird aviaries are

lovel}% all of them with a large circular outside fight, grass, running water,

stones and trees.


The baboo in charge is a most interesting and highly educated man,

and a very keen naturalist.* He has travelled he told me to nearly every

Zoo. in Europe to pick up hints, and the result is that he is gradually'

making the Zoo. there as perfect as it is possible to be.


W. Tweedie.



THE SOUTHERN MIGRATION OF WAXWINGS.


Sir, —Since our Hon. Secretary’s interesting article on the nesting of

Waxwingsin a British aviary, the North of Ireland has been visited by a large

number of these handsome birds, and in fact their numbers this year have

constituted a record migration so far as Ireland is concerned.



* Ram Brahma Sanyal spent an evening' at mv House when in England and gave

me a copy of his “ Handbook ” : he is one of the most amiable men I have met.—A. G. B.



