156 Correspondence.


Goose, (Anser erythropus) ; as also the less well known Whistling Ducks

and Shieldrakes.


I am especially anxious to ascertain whether the Great Australian

Shiel drake, (Tadorna tadornoides) ; the Radjah, (Tadorna radjah), and the

White-fronted Shieldrake, {Tadoma cana), have come into the hands of

any amateurs. I must not occupy your space with a list of all those

respecting which I am anxious for information, hut would appeal to your

readers for assistance in bringing my .handbook up to date by kindly for-

warding an)' particulars on the subject which they may be inclined to

afford me.


Will your readers who have had under observation the Blue-winged

Teal (Querquedula cyanoptera) tell me in what points it differs most markedly

from the Raffle's Teal. In 18SS the Raffle's Teal was as yet unknown in our

collection, but a Continental correspondent wrote me that he and a friend

had specimens of the birds and that it had bred in captivity. The same obser-

vation applies to the White-faced Teal also known as the Blue-winged

(Querquedula discors); while I find also that a pair of Raffle's Teal was-

imported in January, 1S97, by Mr. W. Cross, and this year the well known

importer, Mr. W. Jamrach, writes me that he had between thirty and forty

pairs through his hands in 1900— 1904 of the White faced Teal (Q. discors).


It will greatly assist my publisher, (Mr. W. H. Robinson, Walsall,) if

intending purchasers would signify their names and addresses to him, as we-

have not yet decided upon the size of edition likely to be required.


Seven Gables, Winslow. Rose K. Hubbard.


January, 1907. (Henwife).



PROPAGATING MEALWORMS.


In reply to the note on this subject published in last month's

Avicultural Magazine, Miss Husband has kindly sent us a printed leaflet on

" How to breed Mealworms," by Mr. Stanley Gordon, of Southsea. Miss-

Husband has followed the directions there given with success.


The following is an extract :


" Procure five or six dozen mealworms or mealworm beetles and a

corn bin which will hold about four bushels (the larger the bin the better).

Cover the bottom of this bin with a layer of turf, grass side downwards,

the earth being nearly dry ; then place a layer of virgin cork on this turf, mix

together a quantity of pieces of rag, with pieces of cork, bran flour or meal of

any kind of grain, about sufficient to half fill the bin ; leave this for about

twenty-four hours to settle down, then place a piece of rough cloth or old

sack over it and on this sufficient meal to cover it entirely over, then place

a similar piece of cloth or sack over the last, covering this and about two

or three similar pieces with meal as they are placed into the bin, then place

another piece of cloth or sack over all, and on this put the mealworms or

beetles : they will quickly disappear under the sacking. This having been



