Correspondence


COLOUR FEEDING OF NONPAREIL BUNTINGS



63



Madam, —Like many aviculturists who keep such birds as Nonpareil

Buntings I have found that in spite of keeping them in good outdoor aviaries

they have lost the beautiful red colouring of the breast after the first moult.

The somewhat dingy yellow tone which replaces the brilliant red or rather

scarlet is always a great disappointment, and detracts considerably from the

beauty of the birds.


This year I determined to try an experiment after having first of all

discussed the problem with a friend with a wide knowledge of vitamins.

His advice was to provide Vitamin A. I immediately procured some and

adopted the following procedure. I mixed two or three drops in about a

tablespoonful of cod-liver oil and thoroughly mixed the oil in the seed mixture

which is the only food supplied to the birds.


I gave this mixture of oiled seed for about a month before moulting and

a month after, with the gratifying result of restoring the red colour to the

Nonpareils.


I think this procedure might well be adopted with other species which

lose colour in captivity. I should be interested to know if any member of the

Society has tried treating birds in ill health with homoeopathic medicines,

particularly in cases where the digestion is out of order or where there is

definite inflammation.


J. Alastair Anderson.



ADDITIONAL BREEDING RECORDS OF BIRDS AT LIBERTY IN


TAHITI


Madam, —Since my letter a pair of Mrs. Wilson’s Tanager (Tanagra

lavata centralis berlepsch) have brought a fully-fledged young one to the

feed dish, he is now feeding himself. I did not know they were nesting and

they appear to be nesting again. Also about a week ago I found a Maroon

Tanager’s nest (Ramphoccelus carbo) with young in it, I should judge they

are about two weeks old. So please add their names to the list of birds that

have nested and reared young here, which was published last month. I am

especially pleased about the Mrs. Wilson’s Tanagers, they are such beautiful

birds. I have ordered several dozen more of each species for liberation.

This is the beginning of the breeding season here and great activities are

going on. I look forward to great success as the liberated birds seem to be

well acclimatized.



Eastham Guild.



