362



Correspondence



one of which is worth repetition. An old lady asked me if the Golden

Pheasant was hatched in full plumage ! I forget what my reply was

as I found it so difficult to keep a straight face. The happiest remark

that was made to me came from a gentleman from the North of England:

“ I have been to many bird shows but I do not think that I have ever

seen such beauty in any one section, and I consider the Society respon¬

sible is to be congratulated on drawing the attention of the public

to birds that you tell me are quite hardy and easy to keep.” I took

the first opportunity of ’phoning that remark to my father, and his

delighted chuckle came over the wire and must have been heard through¬

out the Hall. One other matter in connection with showing. Last

year the O.P.S. patronized some nine different shows and altogether

some 214 Pheasants were exhibited; of that number only two Pheasants

died as a direct result of being shown, and in both cases it was thought

a draughty hall was the cause. That fact will prove that Pheasants

will not suffer from being exhibited at shows where the O.P.S. take

the necessary precautions, which they certainly will do.


Jerome Lambert.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


Madam, —On 7th June I put out twelve pairs of birds together in a large

outdoor aviary, this is 11 ft. high by 8 ft. by 7 ft. Standing back to the east

against an old red brick wall, against which is a pear tree, it is almost entirely

sheltered from north, and faces south and west. It is by no means in a quiet

position as that part of the garden is on the road, and buses pass within a

few feet very frequently. The small birds delight to forage in clumps of

iris and the old pear.


Kinds as follows : 1 pair Cuban Finches, 2 pairs Orange and Pink¬

cheeked Waxbills, 1 pair Cordon Bleus, 1 pair Avadavats, and 1 pair Golden¬

breasted Waxbills. They at once became interested in nests, Mr. and

Mrs. Cuban being first in producing two young almost as large as themselves

on 7th August. They at once nested again; result, two more, and I rather

regret to say are at it again ! The next baby to arrive was a complete surprise.

I noticed the Golden-breasted sitting very close together on the floor, and

between them a baby so small that it was difficult to think it could survive,

Next, one pair Orange x Red-cheeked brought out two babies, not much

bigger than an out-sized bumble bee ! The youngest are now about six weeks

old and all flying about, and appear to be in good trim. The Cordon B]eus

set up house in the pear tree, and although they sat tight I eventually found

four infertile eggs. They then again went to nest, and time showed they were

obviously feeding ; this continued for about twelve days when they deserted,



