204 



suppose — but one cannot help feeliug that he draws 

 heavily upon the faith of his readers. For instance, he 

 tells us about the Grey Waxbill — "I have never been 

 able to get more than one or two young ones in a season from 

 these birds under the most favourable conditions." The 

 Sydney Waxbill has "been bred b}' everyone who has 

 tried the experiment." Magpie IMannikins "will raise 

 an incredible number of young." Black-headed Manni- 

 kins " have been bred by m3-self and several persons of 

 m}' acquaintance." The Combassou nests "readily in 

 aviaries without artificial heat." These quotations are 

 sufficient to show that Mr. Geduey's breeding experiences 

 differed somewhat remarkably from those of aviculturists 

 generalh'. 



A good many questionable statements can be picked 

 out of the book. We are told that Ribbon Finches 

 " seldom rear their young in an outdoor aviary," and 

 that Bronze Mannikins (which fly like sky rockets) are 

 " feeble flyers." 



It is not fair to judge, by the standard of the present 

 day, a work on foreign cage birds written nearly a 

 quarter of a century ago. We of to-day benefit by the 

 experiences of our predecessors, but Mr. Gedney was a 

 pioneer, and had to rely almost entirely on his own 

 observation. If we bear this in mind, we shall not be 

 unduly critical of his book. 



[To he Continued). 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



BULLFINCHES NEvSTING IN CAPTIVITY. 



Sir, — It may interest some readers of " Bird Notes" 

 to hear I have a Bullfinch that lias successfully 

 reared a nest of young in \\\\ bird-room. These little 

 birds were most uufortunateh' pulled out of the nest b}' 

 (I believe) a Java Sparrow, who has now paid the extreme 

 penalty of the law. The Bullfinch has built again and 

 is sitting, and I am anxiously awaiting results. The 

 murdered birds were nearlv readv to leave the nest. 



