Editorial. 87 



Mr. Paterson has more than one pair with eggs already, all the 

 birds are in garden aviaries, their only shelter l;cing an open 

 fronted shed. Our esteemed member, Mr. Mathias, has bred 

 them more or less all through the winter, some of the young 

 being fully reared. 



Eakly Nesting Notes: Mr. Mathias has Diamond 

 Finches with eggs, while Cuban Finches and Eafous-tailed 

 Grassfinches are building. Dr. Gosse has also a pair of 

 Bearded Tits showing signs of going to nest. Several mem- 

 bers have Black-cheek Lovebirds, with eggs, and with others 

 such as Zebra Finches and Cutthroats are incubating. 



Bird Protection: A slip (petition) is enclosed in this 

 issue, a letter also appeared in our last issue, upon this 

 subject (see p.p. 61-62), a reference to this will make the 

 position clear. It is hoped that all members who have not 

 already signed the petition, will sign and return same to Mr. 

 Allen Silver, 3, Gateley Eoad, Brixton, London, S.W., at their 

 early convenience. 



Fish Diet for Insectivorous Birds : In the Febru- 

 ary issue of the Avicultural Magazine, (mv esteemed membei', Mr. 

 R. E. Rattigan, records an interesting episode of captive birtl-life. 

 He had in a store-room adjoining his aviaries a glass aquarium 

 containing minnows (originally prcnided for a now defunct King- 

 fisher). A Shama often followed him there (cupboard love), and 

 on one occasion he noticed it perching on the edge of the aquarium 

 regarding the fish with interest, soon he captured one, killed it 

 with a few blows on the head and devoured it piecemeal with 

 evident relish — so long as the supply lasted Mr. Shama got two 

 or three each morning and he was quite adept at capturing them 

 either from a deep or shallow vessel. We opine that fish in some 

 form would constitute excellent addition to the mejiu of insectiv- 

 orous, partially insectivorous and some frugivorous species, es- 

 pecially fresh water fish. In a state of nature undoubtedly many 

 more of our indigenous species so indulge than is generally sup- 

 posed. The writer never tried his Shamas with living fish, but 

 well remembers that his esteemed friend and fellow member, Mr. 

 E. W. Harper, when in Georgetown, British Guiana, fed his Tana- 

 gers on fresh water shrimps and found them very keen on such 

 diet. There are many other species, sugh ag Dhyals and the 



