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Correspondence



(3) Young incubated and reared for a few days : Aurora, Olive, and Cuban

Finches, and Black-headed Siskins.


(4) Young dying almost immediately : All species of Waxbill except

the Crimson-winged (Aurora Finch).


It will be observed that the results are much what one might expect from

the ability, or otherwise, of the foster-parents to cater for the feeding require¬

ments of the young, but this does not appear to apply in all cases even of

the species I have tried, and the experience of others may reveal still further

departures from any general rule.


J. E. Sweetnam.



WHITE-EARED PERSIAN BULBULS


Madam, —I thought our members might be interested in the breeding of

White-eared Persian Bulbuls. Last year I had a pair in an open garden aviary

and succeeded in breeding and rearing three young birds. This was their second

attempt—the first proving unsuccessful because I had other insectiverous

birds in the same enclosure. These I removed, the Bulbuls went to nest again

hatching three out of four eggs. This year I have the pair in a separate enclosure

about 5 ft. by 10 ft. by 6 ft. high. Their first nest contained three eggs which

were hatched, but during a severe storm last month two youngsters died—

the third is now flying about with the parents and is in fine condition.


Last year I was told that my success with these birds was only the fourth

recorded occasion on which they had been bred in Europe.


I may say that contrary to certain belief I find these birds perfectly hardy

and though I brought them indoors last winter do not intend to do so this year

as I feel quite certain (from experience of other pairs) that even on the north

east coast they will survive a winter out of doors in a good though unheated

aviary.



F. W. Dugdale.



