232



Correspondence, Notes , etc.



Mrs. Walker corrects in a letter to the “ Southport Visitor ” of the 9th inst.

It appears that the Committee themselves took the course mentioned on

their own initiative, only as a kind of concession to public opinion, and

not on the suggestion of the Society.


I am glad to make this correction as it seems that Mrs. Walker pro¬

tested at the time against placing the birds in a Conservatory, holding, and

rightly so, that the moist heat would be injurious to them.


John Sergeant.


Sir,—M r. Sergeant has asked me to express my views as to the

suitability for Foreign Birds of an aviary facing due North.


I think there can be no difference of opinion upon a question of this

kind, in the minds of any experienced bird-owners : for all sun-loving birds

an aviary should be so situated as to secure all the warmth and sunlight

available in this inclement country : therefore, as a North aspect secures

less of these requisites than any other, it must of necessity be extremely

bad.


It is possible that the Corporation of Southport might have done

worse, for had they provided a N.k). aspect the birds would have had (as

Punch once put it) “ the full benefit of a delicious N.E. wind,” which would

undoubtedly have encouraged the development of pulmonary disease: it

will probably arrive before long, to decimate the Southport aviary, under

the auspices of a North wind; but may not be quite so deadly.


Temporarily, doubtless, the great advantage of fresh air (as opposed

to the closeness of a bird-shop) has a tendency to invigorate even delicate

foreigners; so that, for a season even the vilest conditions of open air

exercise are partly nullified by the fact that it is exercise in a pure atmos¬

phere; but later on the more delicate must succumb.


A. G. BUTEER.


Sir,—T he Southport Corporation are making an interesting

experiment.


Of course all a priori reasoning would say it is cruel and foolish,

but if thej- succeed in establishing that a northern exposure is the right


aspect for an aviary they will establish a very remarkable fact.


F. G. Dutton.



SHAMA AND DYAL-BIRD.


Sir,—D o you consider a Dyal-bird difficult to keep in good health ?

and do you consider it as good or a better singer than a Sliama ? I have one

of the former on approval, and possess the latter, which I consider a most

charming bird and a good songster.


I feed it on soaked ants’ eggs with a little Century food, three or four

mealworms a day, now and then a few cockroaches and small garden worms.


F. Moerscheee.



