32



Correspondence



grains of sand so fine as to pass through the 50-mesh sieve are capable of

resting in suspension in the air for a long time.


Sand varies considerably in different districts, but there are few that do

not contain a considerable proportion of the harmful fine grains unless these

have been washed out. Washed sand is produced in most parts of the country,

but is not often so thoroughly washed as to eliminate everything below the

50-mesh sieve, so that even if one is using a washed sand regular testing and

sieving will be necessary.


Since I have taken these precautions, I have had no case of pneumonia,

and I feel certain that we have in the sands we use a potential source of


lung trouble.


John Wilcock.



NEW ZEALAND ZOSTEROPS IN THEIR NATIVE COUNTRY


I have just read Mr. J. W. Taylor’s notes on the breeding of the little

New Zealand Zosterops. Curiously enough I had been for a walk through

some bush this afternoon and had found no less than five Zosterops’ nests.

We usually call them “ Wax-eves ” here.


I have noticed that their nests are usually built in a young totara tree

about 4 to 10 feet from the ground. They are not built in a fork of a

branch but are woven into the prickly foliage itself. The nests are all the

same, i.e. moss on the outside with root fibre and horse hairs on the inner

surface.


I think that a branch or two of ordinary yew tree would be very similar

to the totara. I think it is important to have the correct sort of foliage for

them to nest in—I was unable to find a single nest in any trees other than

totara.


I have not bred these little birds myself although I had some for a short

while. I found that they did well on apple, bread and milk, and an occasional

fatty bone.


I have noticed them very busy about one of my apple trees which is

covered with “ woolly aphis ” and am inclined to think they are very useful

in keeping down blight such as this and rose aphis, etc. They are very tame

and during winter will come to the door to be fed.


I hope that these few notes may be of some help.



Alex. R. Strang.



