114



Correspondence



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.



A CURIOUS BUDGERIGAR



This morning I have had the pleasure, a very great pleasure, of visiting the

aviaries and caged birds of Mr. A. Maag, of Green Point, Capetown.


Mr. Maag—a well-known and respected business man at Capetown—has

a truly wonderful cock Budgerigar, one of such peculiar markings that

one wonders what coloration and markings will eventually be stabilized

in Budgerigars. Here is my description of what I call a Mottled or Marbled

Budgerigar. It is three years old and a cock. Ground colour of

bird throughout rich yellow—deeper than a primrose or daffodil yellow—

mottled upon chest, belly, and beneath tail with green.


Head, back, and wings deeply but unevenly mottled with black edgings to

feathering, giving the bird a richly mottled or marbled appearance.


Cere is so light in colour as to leave even experts doubtful as to sex, but

its sex has been proved by mating for it is the sire of, when mated to an

unrelated green hen, a yellow cock and two yellow hens ; a green cock and

two green hens.


This produce shows no signs of exceptional coloration, excepting one green

hen, which shows a tinge of yellow mottling on breast.


Although the cere is so light in. colour, the cheek patches are of deep

cobalt, the left side cheek patch being suffused with white patches. It has

very dark eyes but is what dog-fanciers term wall-eyed, its right eye being

broken in colour. Its left eye is a dark black brown colour.


Tail feathering: one clear yellow ; one green edged with black ; others

broken yellow and green edged with black. Legs and feet light flesh colour,

with all toe-nails tipped with black.


This bird was bred here in Capetown by an amateur bird fancier having

no knowledge whatever of pedigree breeding. It was bred from two greens.

Its present owner, Mr. Albert Maag, is an enthusiastic breeder. He has three

of the most perfect whites yet seen in the adult Budgerigar. They certainly do,

upon close examination, show a slight bluish tinge at the juncture of back and

tail, but one has to look for it to find it. Mr. Maag’s birds, or at least three of

them, are of a much purer white than anything I have seen exhibited in

England. He is also an ardent disciple of Mendel and it is lucky therefore that

this wonderful marbled bird has come into his possession.


Just how he will pair him up is at present doubtful. I advised pairing

the bird back to his daughters and Mr. Maag has also a deep leaning this way.

Upon the other hand, he also fancies the mating of an almost pure white hen.

One or other of these matings will materialize and I am certain all British

Budgerigar breeders will wish Mr. Maag the best of luck.



Capetown.


11th February, 1934.



H. Moore, F.Z.S.



P.S.—Mr. Maag is also the fortunate possessor of a charmingly tame

talking Budgie. This bird he keeps in his bedroom in a roller cage at night.

This bird speaks most clearly and also whistles a well-known London street-

whistle. There are several talking Budgies in Capetown.



