Correspondence



63



eating a little crushed seed and soaked spray millet. They have also

begun having baths. Whether their abnormally long babyhood is

characteristic of the species, or is merely the result of an early environ¬

ment not too favourable, I cannot say, but I am inclined to suspect

the former ; other much more weakly Parrakeet babies I have had to

deal with have been mentally little behind their normal brethren,

i.e. they have begun to feed themselves at the usual age however feeble

in constitution.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


ASSUMPTION OF BREEDING PLUMAGE IN THE RUFF


It may interest Members of the Avicultural Society who make a special

study of the waders to know the length of time taken by Ruffs (Machetes

pugnax) to assume the extraordinary breeding plumage. I have two Ruffs

in one of my aviaries, a white and brown variety, and in spring I took a careful

note of the time taken to complete the change ; here are the extracts from

my diary:—


19.4.31. The white and brown Ruffs have just begun to change colour on

the head only.


24.4.31. The Ruffs are now very decidedly changed. The brown has descended

down the neck and the white one has got a decided white head.


6.5.31. Ruffs : These two birds are getting whiter and browner respectively.

The brown bird is beginning to show the ruff or collar, the white

bird is getting very much whiter.


Reeve : This bird is loosing its grey winter coat and assuming

the summer plumage, breast and sides of head getting light grey,

large black feathers appearing on the breast here and there.


7.5.31. The white Ruff now shows a most distinct collar if one comes on him

unawares, if startled he immediately flattens the collar down, it

is then practically unnoticeable.


23.5.31. The Ruffs have now got quite full collars which they spread out

giving them a very pugnacious appearance.


W. H. Workman.



THE BLACK MAMBA


Members are, I am sure, deeply interested in the experiences of your

widely travelled correspondent, Mr. C. S. Webb. He is, however, in my humble

opinion, a trifle sceptical despite his varied travels and experiences.


Although our Society is not primarily interested in snakes Mr. Webb’s

contribution in your last issue dealing with these reptiles was most interesting.

Mr. Webb casts doubt upon the coloration and temperament of the Black

Mamba. I can assure him he need have no doubts about either.


The first man I saw die in Bechuanaland in 1895 was a white man who

died from a Black Mamba bite. We kept him alive for some hours by pouring



