Stray Notes. 217


than that we thoroughlyendor.se what he saj'S about the excellent condition

of the birds and Marsupials and the care that is taken with them. On our

way home we passed through Melksham, and as the name of that town is

to the majority of aviculturists inseparably associated with that of Mr. C. P.

Arthur, we felt that we could not pass on before calling upon him and if

possible seeing his birds.


Mr. Arthur has a most interesting collection, which he very kindly

took a lot of trouble in showing and explaining. He has a good range of

aviaries well adapted for breeding Parrakeets, and in these he has probably

bred more Budgerigars than anyone else in this country. At the present

time there are only a few of these little Parrakeets, and what there are are

mostly Yellows, but we noticed quite a number of the larger species such as

Pennants, Adelaides, Yellow-rump, Rosellas, and Redrumps. A well built

and well arranged bird-house contained a most interesting collection.

Scarlet Tanagers in some numbers, and not one looking in the least bit out

of sorts. A variety of other Tanagers such as Superb, Tricolour, and Arch-

bishop; a fine Blue Magpie (Urocissa), a Hunting Cissa, Aracaris, several

Parrots and others formed a collection that any aviculturist might well be

proud of.


Mr. Arthur told us an interesting story of a pair of pure lutino

Budgerigars which some of our members will doubtless remember on the

show-bench years ago. They were pure yellow without any stripes, pink

e} r es and pure white cheek spots ; altogether different birds to the Yellow

Budgerigars which are becoming so common now-a-days. And this was-

their history. On examining a nest-box Mr. Arthur noticed three very

dirt)' eggs, and decided to wash them. He therefore took them out and

asked Mrs. Arthur to bring some warm water. The water was brought, but

instead of being only warm it was nearly boiling. Being under the im-

pression however that the water was only warm, two of the eggs were put

into it, but immediately realising his mistake the eggs were hastily snatched

out with a spoon. The third egg was then washed in warm water and the

three eggs were put back in the nest, two being considered by Mr. Arthur

to be most probably quite spoiled by the mistake he had made. However,

as time went on three eggs hatched, and when the birds grew up and left

the nest 011I3' one was an ordinary green bird while the other two were the

unique yellow specimens above mentioned. We advised Mr. Arthur to try

this experiment again, but he said he had often done so, but the result was

boiled eggs.


Mr. J. H. Gurney contributes his annual " Ornithological Report for

Norfolk " for the past year, to the current number of The Zoologist, and as

usual it is very interesting reading. The spring migration brought an

unusual number of Black Terns, but only one Spoonbill. A small number



