Correspondence



339



Straits Chinese, is that of all aviculturists, for sheer practical common

sense, in caging and handling, for unremitting care and attention to their

avian friends or stock, as the case may be, they stand unrivalled.


As for the “ absolute antithesis ”, I’m afraid the writer has been singularly

unfortunate in his choice of a contrast. Admitted the spacious aviaries and

ideal surroundings (N.B. of a public zoo, as distinct from a mere shop), the

less said about the knowledge of, or care of its very temporary inmates, the

better.


Second, Lories : The present scarcity on the Eastern markets is solely

a matter of supply and demand. Parrots (including Lories) are not on the

“ protected ” list of birds and animals of the Netherland Indies, and are

still available but, with the existing “ ban ” on all Parrotlike birds throughout

Europe and most of America, trapping for the market is at present practically

at a standstill.


Regarding the leg shackling of Lories and Parrakeets : Has our essayist

ever tried to keep either in a wicker cage ; or where does he imagine the

Malay or Papuan trapper, whose entire worldly goods comprise maybe a

loincloth and bush knife, would acquire metal cages or wire netting to the

value of several dollars, especially for birds he would be lucky to sell at

fifty cents. Apart from that, what could be more practical than the bamboo

or hardwood swinging perch with coco-nut shell shackle ? Clean, strong,

light, portable, and giving a bird the maximum amount of liberty for wing

exercise consistent with safety.


Some time ago we had three Lories, a Radja ( C . insignis), a Crimson-

fronted ( C . scintillans ), and an Edward’s. Each bird had its own 8-in.

perch and stand, the three fitting snugly in a small travelling case measuring

9 by 12 by 12 inches. For several years, these three birds accompanied

us through Malaya, Sumatra, and Java, Siam, Indo-China, the Moluccas,

and New Guinea, eventually reaching England in 1927. “ Paddy,” the


Crimson-fronted is still to be seen at the Zoological Gardens, as bright and

active as ever, and still wearing his original leg ring !


Finally, Pheasants : That estimate of 80 per cent casualties among trapped

Pheasants is most misleading. Five per cent would be high. Moreover, if

the writer had even the foggiest notion of the methods employed, he would

realize the utter improbability of a Pheasant ever being noosed by the neck


W. J. C. Frost.



A PROLIFIC BLACK SWAN


Madam, —Thinking your readers might be able to give me some informa¬

tion, may I recount what seems to me a rather extraordinary performance

on the part of a Black Swan female which I have.


The Blacks are famous for being free breeders, but a pair which I have

seem unusually prolific. In January of this year, this pair nested, the female

(a three-year-old bird) laying four eggs which were chilled and failed to

hatch. In April the birds nested again, with another clutch of four eggs,

two of which were hatched and reared.


In late August another nest was built, this time inside a low shed, and

five eggs were laid on which the female started to sit on 7th September.

After sitting six weeks, we removed the eggs which, though fertile, had failed

to hatch for some reason. The eggs were removed about 20th October, and



