234



R. James—Breeding British Birds



to 4*45 in., tail 3-93 to 3*55in., culmen 0*9 in., tarsus 1 -25 to 1-21 in.

The immature bird is dark olive brown, streaked with buff down centre

of feathers, which have also triangular spots at the tip of the wing

coverts and inner secondaries. The under surface of the body is

brownish buff, mottled with black bars at the end of the feathers.

The under wing coverts and axillaries are orange buff. Bill brown

towards the tip. Total length 8 inches, culmen 0*91 in., wing 4-6 in.,

tail 3-3 in., tarsus 1-25 in. It has been placed by scientists in the genus

Cossyphopsis ; nothing seems to have been recorded about its habits.

The habitat of the bird is the arid tropical zone of Western Ecuador

and Northern Peru.



BREEDING BRITISH BIRDS


By Bichard James


The Summary of Breeding Becords, published in the July issue

of the Avicultural Magazine should be appreciated by all fanciers

interested in the study of birds in captivity. For surely every breeder,

or would-be breeder, will appreciate having so much authentic material

to work on. The preceding article, written by the recorder, gives food

for much thought, and is not only worthy of comment but comment

would seem to be necessary in justice to the vendor, recorder, and the

breeder—especially the latter.


With regard to the “ familiar advertisements of aviary (or cage)

bred Britishers being offered for sale at 9s. a dozen ”. Now, surely,

no fancier with any experience at all, would take such an advertisement

seriously; as a claim to breeding, indeed, it is doubtful if the vendor

would expect to be taken seriously. I well remember my first visit to

a famous bird market. A vendor was proclaiming : “ Bullies, half a

crown each, all bred in my own aviary.”


I suggested to the man in a jocular tone : “Is not your aviary the

wide, wide world ? ” To which the vendor promptly replied: “ You

have guessed right, governor.” Anyway, it is well known that

Dr. Hopkinson is far too conscious of the possibilities and probabilities

with regard to breeding to be likely to accept mis-statements or



