Correspondence. 249 
Correspondence. 
llRI'.l'.niXC 1; XkXAKD S I'ARK'AKl-.l'/rS. 
Siii. — In an>uri- lo Noiir (iiut\ as to the livrt-din^' nf I laniard's I'arra- 
kc-cls, ] lirod the siH'cics vit\ siux'csslulK at lilx-rtN- hcforf tln' war, and an 
account has already lut'n |iul)!i>lK-d. l"or sonic \cars past I have hail a 
pair in an_ outdoor aviarv, w hich produce from t.\\ o to four voun;;" annually, 
hut only on one occasion have nested twice the same season. They receive 
the same treatmi'nl as Rosellas. and I consider the species (|uite as hardy and 
e.isily manajjed as /'. c.vimltis. 
n.arnard's ai'e certainly a little les> nmrderousK (|UarreKonu' than other 
l^lalyccrci. when hreedint;-, lint no hroadtail is ann'ahle at such limes. In 
s|)ite of its heauty llainard's rarrakeel docs not seem to commaiul a ready 
sale, and I have dilUcuhy in di>posini,f of my youiiL; hirds at even a low fijjurc. 
(The Manpiis ofi T.W 1ST( )CK. 
.MOTH I.ARV.Ah: AS .\ I'OOl). 
Sir, — 1 have been experimenting^;- for some time past with hreediiiL;- i 
small meal molh in the hope of producing a new form of live food for delicate 
insectivorous birds. The little fat" white caterpillar, about half the size of :■ 
full-grown s'C'it''^. "'i" ideal substitute for the less palata1)le and digestible 
mealworm. I have succeeded in breeding three tnoths nearly ;ill the year 
rt.und in reasonably Large numbers, and find that they thrive under the same 
treatment .as mealworms. I keep them in ;i good sized barrel, wan ;iltcrnate 
layers of br.an and sacking, the top Layer of sacking being kept moist with 
sweetened beer. .\ cert.ain luimljer of moths are lost when the toi> is taken 
olf the barrel, but they are sluggish flyers .and prefer to run aw.av and hide 
when suddeidy disturbed. The cateri)illars spin themselves little cases of 
bi.in on the sacking and on the .sides of the barrel and are quite easy to 
collect with a little ])atience. If any members of the F.H.C. would care to 
(kveloj) the experiment I should be pleased to send ;i limited number of larvae 
at Jd. a dozen plus postage. I.ni.ay add tliat the moths should be kept at a 
w.arm, even tetnperature summer .md winter, between ho and So degrees. 
(The Marquis of) T.W I STOCK. 
0 
Reviews and Notices of New Boohs. 
A Practical Handbook 01^ Briti.sh Birds : By various 
atithors, edited hy H. F. Witherby, F.Z.S.. M.B.O.U., with 
imnierous half-tone and coloured illustrations. In 18 parts, 
price 4s. 6d. per part net. London : Witherby & Co., 326, Hij^h 
Holborn, W.C. i. 
Part XII. This part is wholly occupied with a continu- 
ation of the ANATID^, and is fully up to the standard of pre- 
ceding parts. Clenera Tadorna. Casarca, Anas. Spatula, Netta, 
