224 



skeleton of a fresh haddock which must have weighed 

 at least i^lbs., and this, together with a lemon sole, he 

 informed me had been their day's allowance. Very few 

 live fish had been given. I am sure our fellow members 

 will join me in wishing INlr. Dewhurst every success with 

 the Kingfishers. 



jNIv host has not yet succeeded in breeding Nightin- 

 gales in captivit}-, but has had a fair number of eggs from 

 various Britishers, among which ma}' be named the Tree 

 Pipit and the Chaffinch, and a cross between two of 

 perhaps the commonest, viz., cock Greenfinch and hen 

 Sparrow. He also bred some \'oung Thrushes in his 

 aviary, and very nice birds they look. 



His muling operations had not been a marked 

 success, but he informed me that he had had young from 

 Linnet-Bullfinch, Goldfinch- Bull finch, Siskin-Canary, 

 and Linnet-Canary. vS. A. Sandy, 



BITS FROM A BIRD ROOM, 



In responding to the Editor's request for a line or 

 two on breeding operations, I must say that I am afraid 

 my results this season, so far, are not of great import- 

 ance to the readers of " Bird Notes." 



Certainly those who know, or think they know, all 

 there is to be learnt in this world of ours relative to 

 hybrid breeding, can skip this short paper and lose 

 nothing by so doing — but there may 1)e some who are 

 less versed in the joys and sorrows of hybrid breeding, 

 and to whom these few lines may be interesting. 



Firstly, I breed a few Canaries to keep up the stock- 

 not from young hens mind, but from hens that I have 

 already proved to be vvoith breeding from for the 

 production of light mules— such as are known to 

 throw a decent mule. 



The young Sib hens I have, I keep back as long 

 as possible— then get a nest or two of mules to test 

 their abilitv ; and further, I have an idea that it is from 



