Correspondence



331



in the aviary a piece of pnnga log, better known perhaps as a piece of tree-

fern stem. This New Zealand punga has a hard core of approximately 2 inches

diameter with, inside of it, a pity centre. Surrounding the hard core to

a diameter varying from 9 to 12 inches is mass of wiry, brown fibre, very

closely matted together, which forms the trunk of the tree-fern, or punga,

when growing. A length of this stem, about 3 feet, was suspended

horizontally in the aviary and there was a slight flaw in the material on

the underneath side of the log.


During the breeding season of 1936, the hen Red-faced commenced to

excavate with her beak a tunnel through the fibrous growth. She continued

doing this, working upwards and towards one end of the log, where she

formed a nesting site. The diameter of the tunnel was approximately

If inches, the same as the tunnel described by our member, Mr. Hampe.

Mr. Henley, however, did not provide any nesting material, and possibly

this omission accounted for his final lack of success.


Several eggs were laid and apparently incubated for a short period, but

were then ejected from the nest and found by Mr. Henley on the floor of

the aviary. This coming season another member will have the opportunity

of experimenting with these birds and, having previous experience to guide

him, the prospects of success should be brighter.


It is apparent, however, from the two experiences recorded that a really

hard material in which to make the nest is not necessary. The ideal material

seems to be one which can retain a rigid form after being cut away by the

beak of the hen, and it seems that several thicknesses of punga logs, their

ends buried in the soil and in length about 4 feet, would provide an ideal

nesting site, particularly if a small tunnel were started in a suitable position

to give a little encouragement when starting operations.


G. Rowland Hutchinson.


(Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Avicultural Society of New Zealand.)



Mrs. Drake, My lor, Falmouth writes: Two young violet-eared Waxbills

left the nest on the 17th October. They did not have a single live ant’s egg,

were reared entirely on spray millet and mealworms. The nest was in the

same bush as last year. The new hen only arrived the end of July ! Aren’t

they wonderful !



THE SOCIETY’S MEDAL


Mr. Ezra has successfully bred :—


The Abyssinian Cliff Chat ( Thamnolea cinnamomeiventrus albisca-

pulata ).


The Western Blue Robin ( Sialia mexicana).


The Papuan Golden-heart Pigeon ( Gallicolumba rufigula).


The Black-throated Cardinal ( Parvaria gularis).



