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septic material ? As for dirt and food being thrown about 

 outside the cage some convenience could easily be devised, 

 while any extra dirt in the cage only exposes the bird to 

 greater risk. James C. R. McDonagh. 



THE SILVERBILL— BB^NGALESE CROSS. 



Sir, — The whole of last summer was barren of breeding 

 results in my aviar}', owing to the disturbance of nests and 

 destruction of broods effected b}' a pair of Red-headed Finches. 

 I removed the offenders in the autumn, but imagined that the 

 season was then too far advanced for any young to be reared — 

 however there have been at least three broods since September, 

 and four young birds have left the nest, the last as late as the 

 I2th of December. 



vSometime in October an interesting hybrid was reared— a 

 cross between a Silverbill and a Bengalese. Only one young 

 bird was hatched, and he (or she) is now in adult plumage. 

 The mother is a '* Fawn and White " Bengalese, but the young 

 bird is in appearance something between a Silverbill and a 

 "Chocolate" Bengalese," with more resemblance to the Silver- 

 bill, In fact it differs little from a .Silverbill in plumage, 

 except that it is rather darker — but it is more heavil}' built 

 than a Silverbill, and approaches the Bengalese in shape. 

 Another young one of the same parentage left the nest on the 

 I2th of December and was found dead the next morning; 

 apparently it was unable to regain the nest at night and 

 perished from cold. In this case, again, only one was hatched. 

 I am told by those who are well acquainted with the appear- 

 ance of aviary-bred Silverbills in their nest feathers that this 

 young bird was almost indistinguishable from a Silverbill of 

 the same age. 



Two 3'oung Double-banded Finches left the nest on the 

 24th of November, and, although apparently strong and healthy, 

 are still (23rd Dec.) dependent on their parents for food. 



H. R. Fii,i^MER. 



