Correspondence



399



persisted in following us. So we walked away quickly, but apparently they

kept straight on after us for about a quarter of a mile until they came to

water, and they were seen later (when we were on the mainland) swimming

down Overy Creek.


“ On our return we saw an old Sheld-duck flying low over the creek, so

it is to be hoped that the ducklings were eventually found by their parents.”



NEW VARIETIES IN BUDGERIGARS


We understand that Herr C. Balser, of Darmstadt, has produced Yellow

Budgerigars with ruby-red eyes, the bars on their wings being brown ; also

white ones with red eyes and similar markings on the wings.



HONEY AS FOOD FOR BIRDS


I note with interest the arrival of a consignment of Humming Birds in

Europe and that the London Zoo have some of them. They are bound to be

of great interest to the public and for study purposes, as they are such

a specialized avian family.


Doubtless all concerned have had experience in feeding this class of

“ Soft-bills ” and that the food given is as perfect as it is possible to get.

I would like to mention, however, that our experience with honey is not at

all good. We find that it is more or less poisonous to small birds, giving them

fits and liver trouble. If there is any indication that the food is not agreeing

with them perfectly it might be as well to delete this ingredient from the

mixture.


A. S. Le Souef.



THE RETURN OF THE GRASS PARRAKEETS


It is very interesting to note that our small Grass Parrots, which for a long

time were so scarce, are apparently coming into their own again. This indicates

that some species, at any rate, were decimated by a disease, and that their

disappearance was not wholly due to settlement. The only species that is

still very scarce is the Paradise (Psephotus pulcherrimus), though I have reason

to believe that it is not as limited in numbers as it is thought to be.


We are just now erecting a series of new aviaries for these Parrots, and

hope to have all species represented, even the inconspicuous Rock Parrot

(Neonanodes petrophila).


Two of our Macaws laid last year, but we were not able to get fertile eggs.

However, with different feeding we hope for better results this season.


A. S. Le Souef.



PHEASANTS’ EGGS HATCHING AFTER VOYAGE TO

AUSTRALIA



Mr. K. M. Niall purchased from the Gaybird Pheasant Farm, Great

Missenden, Bucks, sixty Pheasants’ eggs, which he sent to Australia, where



