Coirespondence. Si


the Parrot house in the Zoo, or had last time I was there. Some of them

are a little larger than the ordinal ones, but the main difference is in the

colour between the first and second rings. Instead of being white, or

nearly white, the feathers are brown, not a dead brown, but rather as if a

child had dipped a brush into very wet paint and had painted the white

feathers, giving a patchy effect. I had thought the birds were merely

freaks as it were, but last week I ordered some Bichenos from a dealer.

He had only two left (I had ordered two pairs) and they came yesterday.

One is quite an ordinary Ringed Finch (dealers do not seem to know the

difference between Rings and Bichenos) the other is like those at the Zoo.

It is rather larger, has a broader, bolder looking head, is warmer in colour

and is a patchy brown between the first and second rings. The dealer is

expecting some more next week and m}' second pair is to be sent then. I

am wondering what they will be like. Can they come from a different part

of the country ? I should very much like to know if you have seen them,

and what your theory is regarding them. L. Wiixiams.


The following reply was sent to Mrs. Howard Williams :

I think the dark colour on the breasts of some Bichenos and Ringed

Finches is entirely due to partial melanism, the result of captivity. I have

noticed it on several occasions. Those at the Zoo. were quite normally

coloured when they arrived, and I believe all that are sold with the dark

breasts are birds that have been caged some time. I do not think size has

much to do with the change. Gouldians are also liable to partial melanism

in captivity. D. Seth-Smith.


ORNAMENTATION OF THE MOUTHS OF YOUNG


GRASSFINCHES.


Sir, — Some time ago I drew the attention of members to the decora-

tion of the mouth of the Cutthroat, perhaps it may be of interest to note

that in the young of the Diamond Sparrow the mouth is marked with

metallic looking blue spots and at the gape of the bill there is a bright

blue wart plainly visible when the beak is closed. I havesent a baby youiio-

one to Dr. Butler, and he thought the fact might be worth recording, hence

this letter. F. H. Rudkin.



THE BREEDING OF FORSTEN'S LORIKEET.


Sir, — The Forsten's Lorikeets with which I won last year the

Society's medal have bred again this year.


In May the hen laid two eggs and they hatched, but when the young

birds were a fortnight old they were killed b}' some Blue Mountain Lories.

I removed these birds and the Forsten's Lorikeet laid two more eggs which

were hatched on July 22nd. One of these 3'oung birds died soon after, but

the other one is a fine healthy bird now, out in the aviary. It has its win"-

eathers, and its head and neck feathers, but the body is still mostly down.



