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P. W. Teague—Gouldians



every night. It should be noted the birds were dry, free from all

draughts and cold winds, which 1 think important. To give readers

an idea of the exposed position these aviaries occupy I had two blown

over. These two aviaries are screwed together and measure 13 by 3 ft.,

so the force of the gale to move this lot can be guessed.


Another point of note is that the three late hatched young were fed

almost entirely on the soaked seed method given in my article, with

the addition of Virol in their drinking water daily. Fresh seeding

grasses and green food were unobtainable here, for the severe frosts

killed everything except cabbages, and these the Gouldians would not

touch. These young Gouldians have made remarkable progress, good

size and now—early May—almost completed their moult to adult

plumage. On the other hand I have two hens over twenty months old

which have scarcely changed a feather to adult plumage, and this in

spite of the fact that they both laid when about twelve months old,

but, like Dr. Sprawson’s experience, the adult males would not take the

slightest notice of them. This goes to show how individual Gouldians

differ both in the matter of moulting and also in their individual

tastes.


My stud of Gouldians, numbering over twenty, contains birds from

six months old to an old pair I purchased six years ago. This pair

were in full adult plumage when I got them, so they are probably

much older. I have one adult cock, bred by mating father to daughter,

and another from brother and sister. These are about two years old,

of quite average size, and appear to have as much vigour as birds bred

from unrelated parents.


I noticed in Mr. Highman’s letter in the February issue that his

Gouldians relish white ants. A Gouldian breeder I know in Natal informs

me that his birds won’t look at the white ants, neither have I been

able to get my Gouldians to touch our meadow ants pupa although

offered quite fresh regularly during the summer. No doubt the Virol

water I recommend helps to fulfil this loss. That reminds me I have

been in communication with Virol, Ltd., about a difficulty I experience

when using Virol-water in hot weather. I wrote to the Managing Director,

who has been quite interested in my experiments with Virol for

Gouldians, and I am indebted to him and their chemist, Mr. Wood,



