32



Correspondence



America who is the untiring Secretary of the American O.P.S. provides

us with food for thought. There are several other important features,

perhaps the most interesting of which are seven essays written by

our lady members on matters relating to pheasant life. The Society

presented valuable prizes for the first, second and third and your

Editor, Miss Chawner, very kindly acted as judge. I would also mention

the publication of two magnificent coloured plates, they depict the

Crested Argus (Rheinhardt’s) Pheasant and the Mikado Pheasant. We

are proud of these plates and must thank our President for kindly

presenting them for publication. It is again my pleasure to inform

members of the Avicultural Society that if a copy of this Journal is

desired, then a post card to me will result in a copy being sent by

return of post.



CORRESPONDENCE


A FINE SONGSTER


Madam,— I was much interested in Mr. A. Hampe’s account of “ Singing

Birds in the Far East ” in the November issue of the Magazine, especially

as I possess one of the most glorious songsters imaginable in a Spectacled

Laughing Thrush. This bird was brought over by Mr. A. Chaplin when he

was out on Lord Moyne’s yacht in 1936, and I bought it from him a few

months after its arrival here. It is a bird full of character, but not always

good tempered. He loves men, and if a man comes into the room will im¬

mediately show off, fluttering his wings and singing his loudest. At times

he can be very bad tempered with me, and I have to clean him with gloves

on or his sharp beak would soon draw blood. At other times he will be perfectly

docile, letting me take him in my hands and stroke him. He rarely sings when

I am in the room, but starts the moment I leave it. He seems to have many

different kinds of song. In the morning when first uncovered he sings rather

like a thrush. At sunset and sometimes in the evening he is much more like

a nightingale. He can imitate the crowing of a cock and a hen after laying an

egg as well as the mew of a cat.


He gets very excited at times, flying to and fro and throwing his tail

back over his back, I can never be quite sure whether this means rage or

pleasure—perhaps Mr. Hampe can tell me. In song he certainly surpasses

any Shama I have ever heard and is so lively and full of character. He loves

to play with a piece of paper, picking it up and letting it fall over and over

again. Altogether he is one of the most delightful and charming pets I have

■ever possessed.



E. Maud Knobel.



