118



Correspondence



enclosure with the Hutchins’ pair, and immediately paid violent court to

the Hutchins’ female. In spite of being severely beaten by the Hutchins’

male, he persisted in his attentions to the Hutchins’ female, continuing

through the nesting and rearing period. Evidently mating took place, as two

of the four young reared from the Hutchins’ eggs were an obvious cross of the

Pink-foot and Hutchins’ while the other two goslings were typical Hutchins’.

The hybrids partake about equally of the characteristics of the parents, and

except for size, strongly resemble the cross of the common Canada Goose

with the domestic Gray Goose.


While we have tried every plan of re-mating the Pink-foot male with a

female of his own species, he is still unmated, although confined with two

Pink-foot females at a distance from any Hutchins’. If an occasional call

reaches him from any Hutchins’, male or female, it is immediately answered.


A friend reared young some seasons ago from a cross of the Paradise

( variegata) and Ruddy ( ferruginea) Shelducks. Last year one of the female

hybrids mated with a Paradise male, and hatched and partially reared a

brood of young which fell victims to turtles. This fertile hybrid is very

much what one would expect among the various sorts of Shelducks, for they

are all so very similar in spite of their diverse habitats, that it is easy to think

of hybrids proving fertile within the genus Casarca. I understand the hybrid

female mentioned above is still mated with the Paradise male, so perhaps

this season will see young reared to maturity.


The matter of hybridism is so very interesting to anyone absorbed in

breeding problems, and Dr. Hopkinson’s article is such a real addition to

the none-too-complete writings on the subject, that it should be of more than

passing interest to anyone who enjoys the large, varied, and colourful family of

the Anatidse.


Clarence L. Sibley.



EYE DISEASE IN PARRAKEETS


From time to time various treatments are recommended for the trouble¬

some eye disease which attacks Australian Parrakeets when they are kept

under dirty conditions. It may be useful to put on record that the 1 in 1,000

solution of mercurochrome continues to prove the only really effective cure

for Grass Parrakeets, while Acriflavine which I have been recommended has,

like everything else, proved useless.


Tavistock.



OBITUARY


MR. G. B. CHAPMAN


It is with the deepest regret that we have to report the death of

Mr. G. B. Chapman, which took place on 16th March.


Mr. Chapman was one of the best known importers of birds and

animals, and was latterly associated with the new Zoological Gardens

in Belfast. His death will certainly come as a shock to the many

aviculturists who knew him.



