246



Correspondence



as well as in his aviaries. Mr. Cayley is a thoroughly good

naturalist, aviculturist, and artist, and as such is well qualified to

write books giving the best information and instruction that their

readers can want. We are most of us familiar with his two previous

books, What Bird is That? and Australian Finches in Bush and

Aviary. Both are excellent as regards letterpress and coloured

illustrations, and now his new book, Budgerigars in Bush and

Aviary, makes a fitting companion to the other two.


The way in which the Budgerigar has lent itself to variety

breeding, and in a few years has produced a large number of colour

types is nothing short of amazing, though the danger is that soon

it will be difficult to find the original type which, after all, is an

extremely beautiful creature. I think we should do all in our power

to keep this wild type as nature intended it to be, however attractive

the various new colours may be, for, after all, these are no more

than artificial productions.


Mr. Cayley’s chapter on the Budgerigar in the Bush is extremely

interesting. One naturally supposes that the Australian climate

is the ideal one for Australian birds, but we read of seasons when

the heat was so great that many thousands of Budgerigars and other

birds died from the excessive temperature. When one reads of

120° Fahrenheit in the shade, one wonders whether we are not

far better off here, for the seasons with us are rarely bad for breed¬

ing Budgerigars.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


BREEDING NEW ZEALAND ZOSTEROPS


I bought the parent birds from the late Captain Rattigan and, although

I have had them for two years, they never got farther than a half-hearted

attempt to build a nest. About six weeks ago they set about nesting in a

business-like manner, and there was no mistaking their purpose. They built

a very deep, loose nest, composed of the finest grasses and horse hair. I

ventured to build up the sides myself, otherwise nothing could have remained

in it. I got it secure and the birds did not appear to object to my interference.

Two little blue eggs were laid and duly hatched after a period of ten days.

One chick died, as the stronger seemed to get all the food, and the old birds

were apparently content to feed the first comer. This youngster has thrived

immensely and left the nest after only ten days. It simply would not remain

at home, and hopped about the flight in a disgracefully unclad condition, for



