different routes and conditions of importation, the different countries laid 

 under contribution and the varying success attending each consignment. 

 For this reason details of private as well as trade importations will be given 

 if our members will assist by sending notes on this subject, and on this 

 latter condition the success or failure of this feature of our Magazine will 

 depend because of course only a limited number of species will come under 

 the observation of any one member. \V. E. Tkschkmakrr. 



[The above feature appears to me likely to prove not merely interest- 

 ing but also of practical utility. In our uext issue I shall also hope to 

 inaugurate " Notes on Continental Aviculture," culled from the Continental 

 press. Both should prove useful and, I hope, permanent features in our 

 Magazine. — Ed.] 



NESTING OF VIRGINIAN CARDINALS. 



Sir, — My Virginians commenced sitting on May 8th ; two young were 

 hatched (the clutch consisted of three eggs) on May 20th, and they left the 

 nest on May 30th ; both were reared, but one escaped from the aviary. 

 They again commenced to sit on two eggs on June 8th, two young were 

 hatched on June 20th and left the nest on June 30th ; one died when four- 

 teen days old, the other at the age of ten weeks. They commenced incubat- 

 ing a third clutch of three eggs 011 July 10th, two young were hatched ou 

 July 22nd, which left the nest on August 1st, both were reared. They 

 have again built a fourth nest but did not lay. J. Hume 



Zhe flDontb's arrivals. 



Among a consignment to Mr. J. D. Hanilyn of 127 birds from Natal, which arrived 

 about the middle of October, two very interesting species may be noted — both probably new 

 to aviculture— namely, two Coucals and four Scaly-fronted Finches. 



The Coucals (Centropus, the Vlei Lonries of the Boers) are closely allied to the 

 Cuckoos. There are seven species, but I should judge these to be C. supcrciliosus. They are 

 rather large birds with hooked beaks and curious crouching gait. They creep about in the 

 thick bush near rivers and are said at home to feed on locusts and caterpillars, but it is 

 significant that these are fed on meat and are especially fond of small dead birds. Though 

 they have left their full tails at home, they are otherwise in excellent condition. 



The Scaly-fronted Finch {Sporopipes frontalis) is somewhat larger than the Scaly- 

 crowned Finch (S. sqttamifions) and not quite so attractive in appearance. Two more were 

 imported at the same time but are in other hands. 



Mr. Hamlyn also received nearly a score of Rufous-backed Mannikius. Since those 

 imported by Mr. Liter two years since, I have only heard of one of these charming little 

 Mannikius reaching this country and that one was sent over privately. Nevertheless, this 

 species seems to be well-known to the bird-catchers in S. Africa, by whom it is called the 

 "Zanzibar Fret," to distinguish it from the Bronze Mannikin, or ''Fret," and it will 

 probably be more frequently seen in future. 



There were one or two Violet-eared and Dufresne's Waxbills in this consignment, 

 only one Grey-necked Serin, which latter species seems to be more and more rarely impor- 

 ted. It is protected in Cape Colony by the Wild Bird's Protection Act of 1899. 



