interested in bird life — it should command a large and ready sale and 

 we cordiallv recommend it to our readers. 



The Birds of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. By J. E. 

 KELSALL, M.A., M.B.O.U., and Philip W. Munn, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 

 Published by WlTHERBV ik. Co., 326, High Holborn, W.C., 15 - net. 



A notice of this useful and well got up work reaches us; it contains 

 16 full page plates from photos from life by Smith Whiting and 

 drawings by G. K. Lodge, also a large scale coloured map. The principal 

 features are: The distribution and status in the county of each species. 

 Local bird-names and observations of former writers are carefully recorded. 

 A very necessary addition to the library of those interested ill the local 

 distribution of our avifauna. 



jEDitorial. 



NESTING NOTES. So far but few of these have come to hand. 

 Mr. R. Suggitt has nests of Yellow Sparrows (P. luieus) and Red-headed 

 Finches (Amadina erythrocephala) with the young eight and ten days' old 

 respectively. Mr. Suggitt appears to be very successful with P. luieus, 

 breeding them almost as freely as others do Budgerigars. 



As regards my own aviary the only young yet out of nest are Diamond 

 Doves; but Jacarini Finches and Tauagers have nests almost complete, 

 whether these two will go beyond this stage is very much open to con- 

 jecture. A (f House Sparrow has paired with a ? hybrid P. monlana X P. 

 luieus, they have built and are incubating a clutch of eggs, but as to whether 

 they will prove fertile is a matter of much interest. Cutthroats and Red- 

 headed Finches have again cross-mated and are incubating as also are the 

 cross paired Bronze and Magpie Mannikins. Zebra Finches and such like 

 are very busy nesting, but I fear the ultimate outcome will be but small, as 

 the moderate dimensions of my aviaries compel me to keep their occupants 

 too numerous and varied for much successful breeding. 



BIRD LIFE OF SUBURBAN LONDON. An unknown corres- 

 pondent sends the following cutting from the Hackney and Stoke Nezuingion 

 Recorder, of 15th ult. 



RURAL CLAPTON. 



To the Editor of the Recorder. 

 Dkar Sir,— Lovers of bird life may be interested to know that blackbirds and 

 thrushes are quite familiar visitants of the gardens which run from the houses on Clapton 

 Common to Springfield Park. This spring a pair of blackbirds built their nest in an ivy- 

 covered arch in my garden, and duly hatched their young. The fact is somewhat remark- 

 able, as this sweet warbler is rather a shy bird, and my gardener passed under the arch 

 constantly without causing the hen bird to forsake its nest. Thrushes also nested in ail 

 old fruit tree. No doubt the close proximity of Springfield Park accounts for the number 

 of birds to be seen in our gardens. Yours faithfully, 



Oriel Lodge, Clapton Common. F. Bourne Newton. 



