Correspondence



173



A CRITICISM


Madam,— I fear I cannot find myself quite in sympathy with your eulogistic

review of Mr. Rosslyn Mannering’s Parrots , Parrakeets, and Budgerigars.


The book is of very uneven merit and the chapter on budgerigars is so

much the best that it gives the impression that the author is an experienced

budgerigar breeder who has kept one or two parrots and cockatoos as cage

pets. Having set himself the task of dealing with the entire parrot family

he has had to fall back on the opinions of other writers, good, bad, and

indifferent, supplemented by a certain amount of theory of his own, as

distinct from practical experience.


Some good advice occurs here and there, but the ship is constantly spoiled

for a ha’porth of tar and there are a good many errors and unfortunate

omissions. Heat is recommended for sick birds, but the suggested temperature

is about 10° too low to be effective in any but mild cases. Medicine suggested

is, if my memory is not at fault, the useless magnesia instead of the far more

effective syrup of Dimol or Buckthorn.


There is a good deal of information about nests, but the most important

of all “ tips ”—the placing of the nest in the flight and not in the shelter

is omitted.


Mr. Farrar’s incorrect description of the hen Pennant as differing in

plumage from the male is perpetuated and the lack of helpful, if brief, informa¬

tion on sexing various species is rather noticeable.


Tavistock .



WHEN TO BUY FOREIGN BIRDS


Madam, —My experience may be in the minority, but with all foreign

birds I have found the late spring and summer the best times for buying

them, particularly for beginners, as the always difficult problems of artificial

heating and lighting are done w r ith. Flowering grasses and flowering shrubs

with their store of insect life—the long days full of sunshine which can be

safely spent out of doors—all help tremendously towards the health and

happiness of delicate birds—giving them a wonderful bloom difficult to obtain

in the winter.


I hope this letter may be crowded out by others full of helpful ideas,

and make it possible for those with small means to buy Parrots at a

reasonable price.


Knowledgeable bird lovers with even a small garden, might well try

some of the exquisite Parrakeets (so sadly in need of increasing their numbers)

now beyond their reach at prices ranging from £10 to £50 a pair. Thus many

valuable opportunities are lost.


If there were some means of quarantine as I believe they have in America

—whereby members could obtain Parrots at a reasonable price, many dreams

might be realized. Birds costing from Is. to 18s. each in their lands should

be from £1 to £2 here. Let us work for the Prohibition of Prohibitive Prices

for Parrots.


Muriel Maxwell Jackson.


PS .—I should like to add that a week or so ago I received a small

consignment of Orange Cheeks in perfect condition packed in a new white

travelling box, zinc ventilated, new zinc drinkers and sponge, also a good

perch, and these for the modest sum of Is. 6d. each from one of the despised

London dealers !



M. M. J.



