Correspondence



85



However, lie let me scratch his head. His name was “ Jimmy ”, and

he had been found three and a half years before lying under a tree with

a damaged wing and not fully fledged. He was adopted there and then,

and has become a great pet; he understands everything that is said

to him and has a language of his own. He eats anything that comes

his way, and I imagine in a kitchen like that it is a good deal, and is

especially fond of chopped up hard-boiled egg, also currants and

sultanas, and he knows the cupboard in which these live.


Jessie N. Collinssplatt.



FOUR QUESTIONS FOR AYICULTURISTS


Three or four years ago I somewhat reluctantly allowed my name

to be put up for membership of the Avicultural Society by a friend,

and was honoured with election. “ Reluctantly ” because I did not

feel qualified to be a member for, although my interest in birds is

strong, I am not as yet in any sense a “ fancier Some time in the

future I hope to keep and breed Waterfowl and Waders. In the

meantime, as a matter of interest, I would like to ask some member

to be so very kind as to answer four questions :—


(1) What is the object of crossing birds (generally, different species

of the same genus), i.e. why are people interested in producing hybrids ?


(2) How many species of birds have been saved from extinction

by aviculturists, i.e. how many species now exist only in the captive

state, or in a natural state solely due to aviculture ?


(3) How many species of birds, if any, can be said to have been

rendered extinct owing to the desires of aviculturists to secure specimens

and which, when secured, have not been successfully bred to ensure

non-extinction ?


(4) Is there any authoritative list of birds so rare in their natural


state that by agreement among collectors and. others no efforts are

made to capture them, alive or dead ? Or is it seriously considered

that to capture the last ones alive gives the species a better chance of

survival ? L. McCormick-Goodhart.


[We shall look forward to answers to the above from other members,

but may make the following observations :—



