138



Correspondence



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


GOULDIANS BREEDING TO THE THIRD GENERATION


Mr. P. W. Teague writes: “I am pleased to tell you my third generation

of English-bred Gouldians is now an accomplished fact, although there are

only five of them. Fortunately these are from two unrelated pairs, so that

I can carry on further study and experiment, I hope.”



A FEATHER-PLUCKING PARROT


Probably “ the usual sunflower seed mixture ” referred to by Mrs. Hewley

is the cause of her Parrakeet plucking itself, as all packet Parrot foods are

unsuitable for feeding Parrots and Parrakeets. The bird should be fed on

canary, white millet, wheat, oats, and peanuts, with fruit and green food,

but no cake or tea. A twiggy branch of any non-poisonous deciduous tree—■

oak, ash, elm, lime, hazel, etc.—should be provided for the bird to nibble, ash

being particularly good. If it could be given some form of aviary accommo¬

dation the chances of a permanent recovery are considerably increased.

Bathing facilities should be provided.


Tavistock.



PROLIFIC BOURKE’S PARRAKEETS


I thought that perhaps you might be interested to hear about an

extraordinary pair of Bourke’s Parrakeets in the aviaries of Mr. Rowland

Hutchinson, of Auckland, whose kind hospitality I am now enjoying. This

pair of birds was purchased last year, and a few months after being received

from Australia they went to nest. The hen laid eleven eggs. Of course, these

were too many to cover, so only eight hatched out; of these, six were reared.

Before the young had left the nest the hen laid again ; this time she hatched

and reared seven perfect young ones. Again before the last youngster left

the nest she again laid six more eggs and was sitting on them when I left

for Fiji.


Surely such a hen is a veritable treasure, beating even a Budgerigar in

fertility. Mr. Hutchinson has promised me some of this prolific strain to

bring back with me.


Sydney Porter.



THE BLACK-BREASTED PLOVER

On my return from Egypt last week, I was pleased to learn that my pair

of Australian Black-breasted Plovers had eggs, and had been sitting for over

a week ; the four eggs were laid in a small scrape in the sand on the floor

of the shelter of their aviary, and each bird takes its turn in sitting. If I am

lucky enough to rear the young, I shall hope to write a full account later on.


G. H. Gurney.



A TROPICAL HOUSE


The few birds flying loose in my new Tropical aviary look splendid,

especially the King Bird of Paradise which is absolutely perfect, and of the



