J 74



Correspondence, Notes, etc.



cannot, however, blame the food for this, as three pairs last year behaved

in a similar manner. My three young Javas are almost entirely grey,

though their parents are pure white. This seems a usual thing with these

birds. E. Brampton.



THE MANDARIN DUCK.


In reply to ait inquiry, the poliowing letter has been forwarded to Mrs.


Roberts, of Tasmania.


I am very glad to be able to help any one in raising Mandarins, but

am sorry to hear Mrs. Roberts has such trouble in getting a drake. Has

she tried the Melbourne Zoo ? or are there no steamers running from

Chinese ports to Tasmania ? They have these birds in Australia I know. If

she cannot get one there, it would not be difficult to send one out if some

one would care for it on the way, as the Mandarin is easy to get and bears

travelling well.


The ducklings are best left to be hatched and reared by the mother, if

a pond abounding in natural food and protected from vermin be available.

If not, the eggs can be given to a small motherly hen, and the young

reared in a pen or covered run. If in the former, the sides must be

smooth, as these ducklings can and will climb like rats. For food they

need hard-boiled egg and bread crumbled together, with duckweed and

small worms, or, in default of the two latter, chopped lettuce and minced

tender raw meat. Bread-and-milk should be avoided, as, though good for

other ducklings, milk is unsuitable for these. A sunny place is good for

them in Europe, but in Tasmania they would no doubt need to be guarded

against too much heat. They' are also liable to suffer if allowed to get wet

in captivity' during the first week or two, but here again a warm climate

would no doubt make a difference. If well cared for at first, tliey r are not

hard to rear in confinement, but of course they’ would have a better

chance in freedom. I am sorry' I did not say anything about rearing

ducklings in my additional notes on Carolinas,* but the above may

perhaps be of use. They ought to take up both species for acclimatization

in Tasmania ; and, if they could get Mandarins direct from China, as I

believe they' do in Australia, these would be better stock to start with for

either turning out or breeding from than European specimens bred in

captivity. Frank Finn.



VIOLET-EARED WAXBILLS, PECTORAL, AND GOULDIAN


FINCHES.


Sir,—A pair of Violet-ears made a nest in a small covered box at the

beginning of January, the hen laid two eggs in the nest and several, I fancy.



See our last issue, p. 139.



