Correspondence 59



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


THE BIRD SHOPS OF SINGAPORE


Madam, — I have followed the correspondence on the above matter and

my sympathies are entirely with Mr. Sydney Porter. I cannot refrain from

giving some impressions I have gleaned from a great personal friend of mine

who lived in Malaya for over twenty years and spent a lot of this time in

Singapore. He is a bird lover and he has told me that the mere sight of the

bird shops in Singapore made him feel physically sick, surely strong con¬

demnation ? The information that I have gathered from him is that most of

the birds, including Pheasants, are fed mainly on rice of very poor quality

and that many birds die weekly from sheer starvation. He has told me that

he has frequently taken suitable food into these bird shops and surreptitiously

fed the poor birds, particularly the soft-billed varieties. This food has

invariably been eaten ravenously by the wretched occupants. He once

expostulated with the proprietor of a bird shop and was told iu solemn tones,

that he could only afford to supply rice and this in limited quantities. My

friend told me he gave up taking food into the shops because the sight of the

ravenous birds literally brought tears to his eyes and one can readily believe

this. The rice is thrown into the cages regardless of filth and receptacles

rarely are provided: one can well imagine the appalling results. To put the

matter in a nutshell, my friend asserts that these poor creatures die from

slow starvation unless kind friends rescue them from the clutches of these :

cruel but not ignorant people.


As to Pheasant trapping, here I am able to quote from our great authority

Monsieur J. Delacour. I am sure that if he was in Europe at the present

time he would write on this subject, but I am in a position to quote from

an article he has written for the O.P.S. Journal which will be published

before this letter appears. In this article M. Delacour states that practically

all Pheasants are trapped in the same manner, viz.: “ The immense majority

of Pheasants are trapped in nooses, when they are caught by the neck, which

often happens if the nooses are baited or, if a leg is damaged, it is better to

make skins of them or to utilize them for the pot, etc.; many, however, are

caught alive.” M. Delacour then explains the method of trapping which

corresponds in every detail with Mr. Porter’s letter. I think it is a recognized

fact that trapping of Pheasants leaves much to be desired and in proof of

this I must recommend Mr. Frost to read the article referred to in the

O.P.S. Journal. If there is one authority on whom absolute reliance can be

placed it is surely the opinion of Monsieur Delacour. I t hink it is quite

probable that many members of the Avicultural Society would like to read

the article by Monsieur Delacour. A post card to Miss J. M. Grant-Ives,

Wellesbourne, Warwick, will secure a copy.


P. J. Lambert.



BREEDING BLACK GAME IN CAPTIVITY


Madam, —As regards Dr. G. Steinbacher’s paper—“ On the keeping of

Capercaillie, Black Cocks, and Grouse ” (in the January number of the

Avicultural Magazine)— you may like to record that I bred black game



