Correspojide?ice, Notes, etc.



145



Will Bower-birds live in an aviary ? If so which species is recom¬

mended ? Are they dangerous to other smaller birds ? What should they

be fed on ?


Louisa Feieding.



The following reply has been sent to Lady Louisa Feilding:


If they are properly fed, there is no difficulty in keeping Bower-birds

in an aviary; but during the winter, it must be an indoor one and

moderate^ warm.


I do not think you can improve upon the Satin Bower-bird: I have

had a pair since September 1899 which is now in perfect health and

plumage, the cock never having had a day’s illness; the hen however was

ill for three days some months ago, but recovered rapidly after a dose of

castor-oil.


As I keep my birds by themselves in a small aviarv, I cannot speak

from experience as to their behaviour towards small birds; but Mr.

Phillipps tells me that they do not seem to trouble about those much

smaller than themselves, though they dispute rather fiercely with others

more nearly of their own size.*


They should have some soft food : (‘ Century Food ’ would be as

good as any), also plenty of fruit—oranges, ripe pears, or grapes, being

favourites; and insects in some form; cockroaches they like as well

as anything else : they are moderate eaters.


A. G. Buti.er.



BIRD NOTES FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.


(See also page 132).


The official list of additions to the Gardens for the month of

December 1903, from which the extracts on page 132 were taken, appears

to have been incomplete, and a revised list was issued on January 23rd,

and received just before going to press. This includes the following

additions besides those recorded above:—


Dec. 4. 1 Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicns) .. Captured at Sea.


1 Red-billed Toucan (Ramphastos erythrorhynchus). Demerara.

1 Blue-fronted Amazon {Chrysotis cestiva) .. S. America.


„ 14. 2 Malabar Mynahs (Poliopsar malabaricus). .. India.


,, 15. 2 Hybrid Parrakeets (between Platycercus


eximius and Psephotus hcematonotus) .. Australia.



* The adult male Satin, Spotted, and Regent Bower-birds I have found to be very

uncertain in their likes and dislikes, the latter quarrelling only with his own species. They

all interfere with the nesting of other birds.—K. P.



