Correspondence



199



All the Finch hybrids were excellent songsters, especially the Yellow-

rumped Serin cross, but I found them all, except the Waxbills, very

quarrelsome in the aviaries. Cage Birds published what became of

most of these hybrids, and I believe some of them are still alive.


In addition to the above I also reared nine Goldfinch X Canary

hybrids.


P. W. Teague.



A CRIMSON-MASKED CONUKE


It may be of interest to your readers to hear of my experience

with my pet Crimson Masked Conure, which I brought from Genoa

three years ago, who lives in a cage in my room (or rather on the cage),

and goes into it when I tell him. Last August he escaped out of the

window, and after an absence of three months he was eventually

caught by the means of hanging his cage filled with apples on the tree

he was on ; he was just eating the last apple on the tree, and it fell to

the ground. During the three months I frequently saw him in different

orchards and talked to him, but he always flew away when I got closer

to him than he cared for ! He is finger tame, and often sits on a bush

when I am gardening. The thunder-storms and gales did him no

harm, and he came back in better condition than when he left me.


Annie Boger.



BREEDING VIOLET-EARED WAXBILLS IN SOUTH AFRICA


There is a note in the May number of the Avicultural

Magazine by M. A. Decoux re the successful breeding of the Violet¬

eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina) in Germany.


M. Decoux mentions that he thinks that this is the first time this

species has successfully reared its young in any aviary.


Out here, these birds breed regularly with at least three

aviculturists.


Normally they are single brooded, but become quite prolific in

captivity, more especially aviary-bred specimens.



