Editorial. 155 



that the fowls ate them with evident relish but there is a 

 prejudice amongst the people against letting them feed on them, 

 as the eggs are supposed to have a bad taste if they do 



If the peasantry would only trap them and either 

 transfer them alive in boxes having wire gauze ventilators, or 

 dead, after they have been dried they might add to their 

 incomes, and at the same time benefit avic;ulture as well as 

 agriculture." 



Both the above items should prove welcome additions to 

 the Insectile Mixture. 



Aviary NoTr^s: From a private letter by our esteemed 

 member, Dr. M. Amsler, I am extracting the following as 

 of general interest. 



" My Tanagers, Blue and Scai'let, have been out of doors 

 " all winter, and were sleek and slim the whole time. Xut so 

 " the Superlvs, which had to come in, in November." 



" A pair of Yellow-headed Eeed Birds (Marsh Birds) also 

 " stayed out witJiout any ill effect, but I had to bring the hen 

 " in, in March, as she was moulting heavily and could not fly." 



" One pair of Cuba Finches, which I kept out of doors Avere 

 " certainly better than those flying about in a bird-room (indoors 

 "hut unheated)." 



Sugar Birds and Cold : Our esteemed member, Mr. 

 Suggitt, of Clf^ethorpes, Lines., writes me concerning his Sugar 

 Birds as follows : — 



" Tne Yellow-winged appear to be building. Since I have 

 " turned them out we have h ad some cold spells and sharp frost, 

 ' . . . . they have certainly taken no hurt, and are very fit 

 " and tight, and from recent observations I am of the opinion that 

 " they will stand more cold than our migrant Warblers --how- 

 " ever, we shall see." 



Our esteemed member, Mrs. C. Anningson, of Cambridge, 

 has had a similar experience, and we hope to give details in a near 

 issue. 



Mr. Willford's Aviaries: Here the birds appear to 

 have made a good start and there is every promise of a suc- 

 cessful season. Several of the smaller enclosures have been 

 amalgamated, and there are now six or seven large wilderness 

 enclosures, in which the following species are busily engaged, 

 either in the duties of incubating eggs or feeding young: 

 Parrot, Diiica, and Ruddy Finches : Rufous-tailed Grassfinches, 

 Grey-winged Ouzels, Silver-eared Mesias, Chaffinches, Senegal 



