Correspondence. 79


because an animal comes from a hot or a cold climate, that it will be

miserable under different conditions. The Gouldian Finch, being a native

of Northern Australia, might be expected to do well in a warm indoor

aviary ; but, as a matter of fact, it does infinitely better, is more healthy,

much more lively, and probably lives longer in an outdoor aviary ; even

though subjected to the frosts of this climate. On bright days, even

when the previous night has been frosty, I have seen my birds bathing in

the ice-cold water of their pan and evidently thoroughly enjoying it. To

speak of this as cruelty is absurd.


The Indian Waxbills are quite happy in frosty weather, as are most

of the more close feathered finches; but the African species, at anyrate

when recently imported, are very susceptible to cold; yet it is possible that,

if turned out at the commencement of the hot weather and kept outside,

they may with the approach of cold weather develop warmer clothing

than they need during the greater part of the year in their own country ;

although some of them must during certain months be subjected to intense

cold at night in their native haunts.


We are also now aware, through the reports of travellers, that some

of the more gorgeous of the birds long regarded as inhabitants of hot

climates, that is some of the H ummiugbirds and Tanagers, occur at con-

siderable altitudes and are quite familiar with the appearance of snow; so

that if we were to confine them in a highly heated aviary we should be

subjecting them to wholl}' unnatural conditions.


In all these things experience is the only satisfactory guide.


A. G. BUTI.ER.



THE INCUBATION OF QUAILS' EGGS.


Sir, — In your most interesting article on Quails in the current

number of the Magazine you give approximately the period of incubation

as 16 to 18 days.


This summer I placed some Rain Quails' eggs in an incubator at

about 10 a.m. on the 27th of May and they hatched at 3 p.m. on the 12th of

June, which gives an incubation period of 16 days 5 hours. The incubator

was kept at a temperature of 100 degrees Fahr. It is almost impossible to

judge the exact incubation period from the birds, especially if they are at

all shy, as they often take to the nest on the afternoon before laying the

last egg and do not leave the nest, as a rule, till from six to eight hours

after the last bird is hatched, so that an error of anything from 18 to 24

hours may creep in. On the other hand with incubator-hatched eggs a

possible error is likely to occur owing to the temperature being slightly

different from that of the natural mother. J. Lewis Bonhote.



PARRAKEET NOTES.

Sir, — Will you kindly describe the Adelaide Parrakeet to me.

According to Dr. Greene's "Parrots in Captivity" they are likeTloseHas



