320



G. H. Blair—Galahs



Australian Finches Mr. Cayley gives but little information about this

species. In no account have I seen it mentioned that they spend much

of their time and always roost on the ground.


I would add a word to the recent correspondence about the value of

Bengalese as foster parents, in agreement with Mr. Teague that their

virtues in this connection are not sufficiently realized. Apart from the

incubation of deserted eggs, their regular use in the case of rarer species

often means securing considerably more young per pair per season from

the latter. If the whole clutch is removed and given to Bengalese or

other suitable fosters the rarer pair will generally lay again within

ten days or a fortnight, instead of waiting six weeks or more until their

young are independent. Individual pairs of Bengalese vary con¬

siderably in reliability and it is advisable to mark those which have

proved good rearers of their own young before entrusting them with

those of more valuable species.


Note ( later ).—All four young referred to in the above article have

been reared—and all are undoubtedly Buficaudas ! The solution of the

mystery of a youug Buficauda in the Bengalee nest is to be found in a

completely forgotten note made when transferring the eggs, to the effect

that one Buficauda egg was placed in the Bengalee nest, together with

two Painted Finch eggs. Evidently, as was only to be expected under

the circumstances, all three Painted eggs were infertile. Confusion

was made “ more confounded ” by the one Buficauda reared by the

Bengalese squeezing through the half-inch netting separating the com¬

partments, thus making it appear that the pair of Buficaudas had

produced four young from three of their own eggs !



GALAHS


By G. H. Blair, F.S.A.A.


One day a friend of mine asked me if I would like “ a pink and grey

Parrot ” and immediately I recognized the “ Galah ”. This bird had

been offered to him, but as he had a family and no aviary and the bird

w r as reputed to be spiteful he decided to pass the offer on to me. Need¬

less to say, I was not long in making up my mind.



