283



Correspondence, Notes, etc.



investment in foreign birds was in the previous year, when I had bought

one dozen cock Budgerigars from the late Anton Jamrach. The Lovebirds

were turned into a large cage with the Australian Parrakeets. A cocoanut

shell was hanging on the centre post, and within a very short time one of

the hens took possession and began to lay eggs, which the mischievous

Budgerigars quickly threw out. I knew nothing of bird-life then, and have

so often regretted that I did not clear out the Budgerigars, and leave a clear

field for the Lovebirds, for I did not know it was rare for them to breed.


I cannot understand why the wing feathers are cut, as the birds are

far quieter than Budgerigars which arrived unmutilated. Their quill

stumps I have never attempted to pull out, but let the birds moult them

as best they can. For food they get Indian spray and Italian white

millet—chickweed and sprays of grass in seed and flower. They are fond of

gnawing cuttle-fish bone, but although grit is kept at the bottom of the

cage, I have never during all these years seen one on the floor pecking it.


I lately had a pair from one of our members who said he fed them on

canary seed and rice, and had never lost any. Although I have tried mine

with oats, grass seeds, and canary in separate dishes, they will not touch

them, but remain true to the millet.


With me the average life in cages is six years, but I kept one hen for

nearly ten years. W. T. CaTeeugh.


APPRECIATION OF KINDNESS BY ROBINS.


Sir, —I should like to relate a short incident showing that birds do

really understand and appreciate our care for them. We had a pair of wild

Robins in the garden that I had tamed. The hen fed from our hands, the

cock who was shyer would only feed at our feet. If he was alone he gave a

peculiar whistle which quickly brought the hen, however far out of sight

she might be, and with her coming he grew bolder.


These Robins had a family in a nest made in an old tin in a wood

below our garden, and I used to try and help the hardworking little pair

by feeding them to support their young ones.


I generally fed them by the aviary door, and one very wet day the

old birds came to me bringing their eldest son and heir to show me; a

poor little draggled baby Robin, wet through, but all the same a great

source of joy to his parents. I think it was on the next day I went down

to the aviary, and as I drew near the door I saw the Robins in a state of

great excitement. They had brought no less than seven baby Robins for

me to see, such sweet little things with spotted breasts and the blackest of

black eyes. The parents were in a state of great pride and excitement,

trying to keep the young ones in a circle near the door, a somewhat

difficult matter. You may imagine how I appreciated my Robins’ trust

in me, and I felt I could not do less than throw the babies a handful

of mealworms to celebrate such an auspicious occasion and wish them

good luck. Rosie Aeoerson.



