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Correspondence



manner, and with most unsuitable food ? There is a magnificent

opportunity for our Society, and, I venture to say, the A.S., to insist

that all birds that are exported from their native climes should receive

expert attention both before embarkation and during the voyage. If it

is found that birds are arriving in bad condition owing to unsuitable

packing and food, then this should be reported to the proper authorities.

It is one of our principal aims to arrange for the propagation of rare

Pheasants in our aviaries and therefore it should be our first thought

to see that the birds arrive in good condition. I am not suggesting

for one moment that importers are aware of the shocking conditions

that at times exist. In this matter it should be possible to make it

compulsory for importers to take steps to arrange for proper treatment

and most certainly no one should be allowed to import any birds

without a licence. We hope that sufficient support will be forthcoming

to enable us to do something of real benefit to bird fanciers, and

therefore we appeal to all bird lovers to join our Society as well as

the Avicultural Society.


Jerome Lambert.



CORRESPONDENCE


A CORRECTION


Madam,— I notice one printer’s error in my article “ Facts and Figures ”,

The sentence, “ Only two species did very badly—Rock Grass Parrakeets.

all four of which got ill and died at one time or another,” should read, “ Got

ill or died.” Two of the four birds recovered.


Tavistock.


Barrington House,


Haywards Heath, Sussex.



MR. L. C. WEBBER’S ARTICLE


Madam, — I have never found in the whole series of the Avicultural

Magazine anything more astonishing than Mr. Leonard C. Webber’s article

on the Blue-winged Parrot (Neophema chrysostoma), page 28 of the January,

1938, issue ; and it is still more surprising that the following number did not

contain the slightest reference to it from any experienced Parrakeet breeder.


In a very few words we are asked to believe in a most extraordinary

technique in Parrakeet breeding.


We are told that delicate Grass Parrakeet eggs produced a 65 per cent

hatching result after at least seven weeks’ delay and probably much shaking

and rail trepidation on the long journey from Tasmania to Siberia.


From personal experience in importing Gamebird and Waterfowl eggs

from various countries, I may say that any delay over three weeks runs very



