94



Correspondence



looked very fit. The first prize went to his Ruby and Topaz, the

second to a Black-throated Mango.


The Sunbirds were lovely and looking very well one and all. There

were two Kenya Malachite, a Scarlet-chested, and a Senegal.


Starlings were a lovely show, Royal, Amethyst, and Purple-headed,

and so were the jays, Mrs. Pearce’s Hunting Cissas being a most lovely

pair.


Mr. Johnson’s pair of Green Toucanettes were lovely as they were

rare, and so were Mr. Heal’s pair of Baillon’s.


In the All Other Species classes I greatly admired Mr. Johnson’s

lovely pair of White-browed Blue Flycatchers, Mrs. Pearce’s wonderful

Niltava, and Mr. Ezra’s White-fronted Bush Chat. Mrs. Pearce’s

Golden-fronted Woodpecker was also magnificent. Space will not

allow of the mention of many other notable exhibits.


D. S-S.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


RUFOUS-TAILED OR STAR FINCHES


I was very interested in Mr. H. V. Highman’s article on breeding Star

Finches, and as he asks for the opinion of other aviculturists on the subject

I take this opportunity of giving my experience in this direction.


My pair went to nest within a fortnight of being introduced to each other,

and like Mr. Highman’s selected some tea-tree. Five eggs were laid and all

hatched but were immediately thrown out of the nest.


This, however, did not alarm me. I have found (with finches, at any

rate, in which I specialize) that when no attempt at all is made to feed them

it is usually a sign that the parents are exceedingly fit and anxious to

nest again.


So it proved in this case. Within a week another nest was completed

near the first and in due course five more eggs were laid. These all hatched

and were successfully reared.


When they had only been out of the nest a fortnight a third nest was

made and three eggs laid ; these also hatched and were reared.


Now the following points are worthy of note :—


(1) The incubation was performed almost entirely by the male. He also

did the greater share in feeding the young.


(2) A fresh nest was built for each clutch.


(3) No soft food was used in rearing the young. Some was provided

for the first few days, but as it was never touched it was withdrawn.

Nevertheless every egg hatched (thirteen in all) and every chick was reared

with the exception of the first brood, where no attempt was made to feed

them (their little crops were quite empty).



