NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
17 
There was one thing that Zulu did not like at all, though intended for his good, 
and that was the insect powder bath, the powder being blown upon him from a little 
machine made for the purpose. When he saw this coming he would at once retire to 
the farthest corner of his perch. His diet consisted chiefly of dry nii.\ed seed and 
Indian corn. Sunflower seed he seemed to enjoy as much as anything. Fruit he 
cared but little for, and bread and milk, often given to parrots, he was not allow'ed. 
Nor was he allowed water in his cage, but only by the spoonful, with the hand 
occasionally, an authority on parrots having stated that the reason why so many 
die is because they are supplied with too much water and moist food. Though 
this theory seems a rather unnatural one, yet if it is the correct one, it would, 
perhaps, in the interest of the parrots which are now imported to this country in 
so large a number, be desirable that it should be more widely known. 
I have never cared much myself about keeping birds in a cage, but, as far as 
it was possible to judge, Zulu, at any rate, did not appear to suffer much by his 
imprisonment, for a more lively and playful parrot, as well as a more docile and 
intelligent one, I should think it would have been difficult to find. 
Caerleon, Monmouth. C. E. C. 
Swallows and Insects. — A Welsh farmer and shepherd with whom I 
conversed last month propounded the theory that swallows and other migratory 
birds carry insects under their wings for the purpose of food during their flight. 
He had caught several preparatory to flying, and had always found a store of a 
kind of tick under their wings, apparently at no other time of year. Are these 
birds the victims of parasites, or can it be, as he suggests, that they provide them- 
selves with food for the journey? If parasites, why do they not peck them out 
w ith their beaks, and keep themselves free from them ? and why are they only to 
be found on them in the autumn ? 
Birmingham. A. M. DiXON. 
Late Singing of Blackbirds &c. (p. 216).— On my way to 8 o’clock 
service, Sunday, November 4, I saw and heard a thrush singing beautifully, 
evidently enjoying the sunny, warm morning. The air seemed full of song from 
many birds besides the robins. 
Great Malvern. M. S. PEACOCK. 
Peafowls. — Is the following an unusual occurrence ? We have several pea- 
fowls, and two years ago one of the hens made a nest and hatched five chicks, 
three of which w^ere white and two brown (I may add all our peafowls are of the 
usual colour). One white and one brown bird died, but the others are still living, 
the brown one having growm into an ordinary hen like her mother. The others 
remained white for some months, and then gradually changed ; dark feathers 
began to appear, and in time they became almost black, with a few white feathers 
scattered about. They are now fine young cocks, and are beginning to grow 
their tails, which seem to be like the old cock’s. They resemble him in every 
way but the wings, which instead of being speckled when closed, are black, with 
a greenish-blue hue on the edges of the feathers. We have kept peafowls for 
many years, but have never had any like these before. 
R. C. C. 
Tortoise. — May I ask anyone who knows to advise me how best to take 
care of our tortoise ? He is in our garden, where he wanders at his own sweet 
will. Does he want special food? I intend to take him into the greenhouse for 
the winter, unless I am advised that it would be better to leave him to bury him- 
self in the garden to hibernate, as I believe tortoises will take care of themselves 
in this way. Ought he to be put in a bath of water sometimes ? 
Great Malvern. Mary S. Peacock. 
Wooclpigeons in Paris. — The references made in Nature Notes to 
the woodpigeons which have patronised several of the London parks for twelve 
or fifteen years past, induces me to inform you that on May 16 I saw six of 
these wild pigeons feeding quietly in the gardens of the Tuilleries, while the 
active life of Paris flowed unnoticed beside them. I afterwards saw some in the 
