58



Correspondence



Most of the nests of these birds are dome-shaped and the young would

not be exposed to the extent of the unusual nest I have depicted. I have

observed other nests of this species and have found that they abandon their

young at nights from ten to twelve days after hatching. The crops of the

young are well filled at dusk.


I trust these final notes will be of some value to you.


H. S. Sew t ell.


Beehive Buildings,


Rundle Street,


Adelaide,


South Australia.



SUNBIRDS WINTERING IN THE OPEN


It may interest aviculturists to learn that I have two Sunbirds in unheated

out-of-door aviaries. They are Nectarinia tacazze jacksoni and Cinnyris

mediocris usambaricus. The former was out all the summer, but the latter

was only put out in November. Both birds are in fine condition and roost

out each on a bare twig in all weathers. Cold and wet have no effect on

them at all, and on the worst days they may be heard singing as soon as

it is light and throughout the morning.


I have no doubt that many species are equally hardy and will do well

all the year round out of doors. Indeed, last winter I turned a specimen

of JEthopyga seherce seherce into an unheated, unsheltered aviary in January,

where it was quite unaffected by frost on the very first night, although it

had previously been kept in a warm greenhouse. It did well until it made

its escape in the early Summer.


Certain Humming-Birds, too, would very probably winter in the open

in a sheltered aviary.


A. C.



ERRATA


p. 11. Mr. Yealland’s initial should be J, and we wish to apologize

for the mistake.


p. 28, h 27. Read Spanish for sparies.

p. 28, 1. 32. Read C. L. 0. for C. L. A.



