238



Correspondence, Notes, etc.



way to England and France. Two gentlemen in particular bred these

successfully and to-day they are not uncommon: many specimens have

been exported to America where they are now also established in aviaries.

In all probability the Elliot Pheasant is now safe for all time. This

example is mentioned just to point out that everyone who joins the Society

will be doing something towards helping us to fulfil our ambition, namely

the keeping and breeding of ornamental Pheasants.


Is it too much to expect a most hearty and spontaneous response to this

appeal for your support ?


We want not only the financial help of your members but still more so

the moral support from you as members of the largest avicultural society in

the world. It may be added that we shall welcome members from all parts

of the globe.


The subscription of 5s. should be sent to-day to our Secretary, Miss J. M.

Grant-Ives, Wellesbourne, Warwick.


We thank you now.


P. J. Lambert.



BREEDING THE CEYLON BULBUL


Members will be interested to hear that after years of disappointment

in breeding I have been able to bring a Ceylon Bulbul to maturity.


I learn from Mr. George Brown, of Ceylon, and further, through him,

from Mr. Ezra, that these Bulbuls have a habit of rearing their young for two

or three days and then pitching the young brood out of the nest. This has

been my experience.


My wife brought home two of these Ceylon Bulbuls when very young, and

they became so tame on the voyage home that they were permitted to fly

about the cabin with the door and port shut, and she found no difficulty in

feeding them.


We have found the very greatest difficulty in our attempts the last few

years to bring the young ones to maturity, owing to the feeding, but this time

we segregated the parents from other tropical birds which we have in the

aviary and they fed the young ones on currants, fruit, meal-worms, etc. They

were particularly keen on meal-worms.


The young one is now flying about the aviary and is a very “ hardy young

person ”.


I further understand from Mr. G. H. Brown that in years gone by the

Europeans in Ceylon described these birds as the Ceylon Nightingale, and it is

so referred to in Persian poetry. Although not a first-rate singer, it certainly

has a very pleasant, homely chirruping warble, and at times is a very good

mimic.



W. Shakspeare.



