Correspondence, Notes, etc.



173



Captain Slielley replied as follows :—


“ The bird j^ou refer to in your letter of the 14th is most

probably Vidua (Linura) finschi, Reiclien, J. F. O. 18S2, pi. 2, fig. 1.

There is no other Weaver-bird with white tail-feathers. The species

ranges over Eastern Equatorial Africa, between 6° S. lat. and il° N.

lat. or from the Usequa country to Shoa. No native name has yet been

recorded for the species. I should not be surprised if the chiefs use the

four buffy-wliite centre tail-feathers as ornaments, but this has not yet

been published.”


To this I append the following remarks :—


I11 the Museum Catalogue the four central tail-feathers are

described as straw-coloured', and, as you only mention two long white

feathers in the tail, I was unable to recognize the species ; but you will see

that, if the accouut is authentic, this must be the bird intended. It has

never been imported alive.


A. G. Bu'l'IvRR.



FOOD FOR NESTLINGS.


Sir,—F or some years I have been giving my birds, both foreigners

and Canaries, hard boiled eggs and breadcrumbs during the nesting season.

Year after year, the death rate among the nestlings has been very high in

spite of all my care. Believing that this was due to adulteration of the

bread, I have substituted this season Spratt’s Dog Biscuit finely powdered,

and the result has been most satisfactory.


One of our members told me some time ago that he had reared a

nest of hybrids on this food, and as I had already proved its value for

newly-hatched Pheasants it seemed worth while to try it.


At first the birds did not like it at all, but finding no other soft food

in the aviary they took it as their young ones hatched, and fed the nestliugs

on it. They did not, however, seem to eat much of it themselves, and

perhaps this is one reason why I have had so few invalids this summer.


My four Canary hens have fully reared 32 strong young birds, a pair

of Ribbon Finches have reared nine young birds since September, and my

White Java Sparrows have three strong young ones nearl} 1, ready to leave the

nest. The Ribbon Finches lost only one young bird in the nest, and this

was the only one hatched in their second nest. Two fine young cocks died

about a fortnight after they left the nest, and No. 9 flew before her flights

were strong and was drowned in a heavy rain. The others are all hens but

one, and seem strong, healthy little birds. Two pairs of Zebra Finches in

the aviary have eaten the same food with apparent appreciation, but though

they seem to enjoy life very much are by no means keen on undertaking

the cares of a family. Rough nests have been built but no eggs laid. I



