The Nesting of the Algerian Chaffinch. 15 



largely enter into its diet. The nesting season of /". spodiogciics in Southern 

 and Central Tunisia commences soon after the middle of March, and is con- 

 tinued well into May. In the north of the Regency it is somewhat later. 

 In the olive-groves of the Gafsa oasis I have found many nests during the 

 first fortnight of April, some with eggs, others with fledglings in them. 

 The nests are placed as a rule in the fork of a bough at a height of eight 

 to sixteen feet from the ground, and resemble those of our European 

 Chaffinch, in being cup-shaped and neatly and compactly built, but they arc 

 somewhat larger, and composed externally of dry bents and grasses of a 

 greyish colour, which harmonises better with the grey boughs and foliage of 

 the olive-tree. Interwoven into the nest are pieces of wool and cotton 

 threads, and occasionally also a l)it of blue cotton stufif, probably picked up 

 near some Arab tent; the interior is neatly lined with hair and feathers. 

 The eggs, usually rather larger than those of the common Chaffinch, and 

 generally four in number, are of a dull pale bluish or greenish colour, sparsely 

 clouded and spotted with vinous and russett markings. They vary a good 

 deal in size and shape, but their average measurements are -M.50 x 15.50 mm." 



Editorial. 



THE PROSPECT : This is all we could desire, and the 

 future outlook is rosy, if we are only prepared to take the 

 trouble to grasp and use our opportunities. 



We regret we cannot congratulate our members ui)on this 

 issue — again too much has been left for the Editor's pen to hil — 

 and the result is and must remain so, that lark of variety, which, 

 we think, all desire to see. 



Our members do not seem to have yet grasped the fact 

 that, during the war, we lost most of our regular and valued 

 contributors, or are somewhat indifferent or slack about the 

 matter. Your Editor cannot, and it is unreasonable to expect 

 it, write several articles month by month, and if members will 

 not take the trouble to write articles on the doings of birds in 

 their own aviaries, rare arrivals, which they see or hear of, and 

 other topics of aviculture — we still have a good membership, 

 but comparatively few wrote anything for the Journal last year, 

 and there should be ample unrecorded matter to carry us over 

 till the coming season should supply us with fresh facts and 

 episodes — one thing we must make quite clear : your Editor 

 cannot, and zvill not. be always whining for copy, neither can he 



