60 
Brithh Ji'irchs. 
tame, but this only partly conipiMisates for its sombre coloiariiig 
and lack of song, in liirdrooms where the space is limited and is 
easily filled with rarer and nioi'e l)eautiful species. 
I have caught and nieated off a few specimens ; they have 
thriven on the ordinai-y soft food with gentles anil other live food, 
but I could never induce them to partake of any kind of fruit, 
although they are said to partly feed on berries in the autunm. 
Correspondence. 
ORIOLES AND VIRGINIAN CARDINALS. 
Sir, — Can any member tell me if Orioles and Virginian 
Cardinals will agree together in an aviary ? 
(Hon.) M. C. Hawkb. 
THE LONGEVITY OF CAPTIVE BIRDS. 
Sir. — I think it may interest meml)ers to hear that I have 
kept a Zosterop in perfect condition for over seven years. One 
winter was spent in an unheated, but shelteretl aviary : it was 
driven into the shed at night and shut up. Other years when the 
weather really became cold, it was brought in and caged with 
Gouldian, Parrot Finches, and Waxbills, in a large cage (Hft. by 
2Tft), which was kept in the dining-room. 
His diet was very varied, as he often got a l>it of pudding 
at lunch time — custard, rice, stewed prunes, &c., — the usual soft 
food, crushed hemp and fruit. 
When he had l)een in my possession about two years, I 
picked him up in an ajiparently dying ccmdition, in a fit : I soused 
him in cold water and he recovered. 
This autumn he looked rather mopey and I brought him 
indoors, putting his cage in a liot kitchen — l)ut he only lived about 
six weeks, <lying after a series of fits. 
I have Avritten of this charming little l)ird as "he," but I 
do not know the sex. As it never sang, very probably it was a hen, 
— I wish I could ol)taiii more, they are most charming birds. 
(Hon.) M. C. Hawke 
Sir. — I enclose you a cutting which will prol)ably interest 
many members and may also call foi-tli other intei'esting records 
of a similar chai-acter. 
"Mr. H. Chaiitller, of Aruiidcl-street, Laiidport, writes : — I read in 
"the " Evening News " tlie achievement of Mi'. Smith's jwrrot, which has 
