Early Notes of the Season. 183 



of June a brood was successfully hatched out and all went 

 well, the parents proved excellent feeders and the young 

 (two) progressed rapidly, only to succumb one bitter, windv 

 night when fully fledged and all but ready tc leave the nest. 

 The nest was a very flimsy one and little or no protection 

 against the bitter weather prevailing in this district (Liver- 

 pool). However, they are not giving up in despair, for another 

 nest has been built, but in a more exposed position than the 

 last, so that, unless we get a little summer weather soon, the 

 outlook is none too hopeful. 



Himalayan Siskin x Greenfinch (Chrysomitris spl- 

 noides X Ligurinus chloris). This is a happier story than 

 the preceding, for four strong young hybrids are now disport- 

 ing about the aviary. An interesting fact about the rearing 

 of these hybrids is, that a pair of V^irginian Cardinals who 

 lost their own young one bitter night, at once took charge of 

 the young hybrids. 1 hey take t'lie greatest care of them and 

 will hardly allow their own parents to approach them. The 

 hen Virginian at once took them over when her ow.i young- 

 died and I could hardly drive her oft the nest to lei the Siskin 

 and Greenfinch feed their oft'spring. They used to sit waiting 

 for me to' drive the Virginians away, and then rushed to feed 

 their young ones. A pair of Chaffinches have young just 

 underneath, and they and the Siskin are continually attacking 

 the Cardinals, and 1 have seen the Chaffinch holding on to 

 the Cardinal's tail while flying. They do not seem to have 

 taken any harm, as the small birds are so quick, but it is 

 curious and interesting that the Cardinals should have taken 

 over the young hybrids instead of going to nest again. 



Virginian Cardinals {Cardinalis carduialis). These 

 hatched out a little later than the I'opes, and with exactly 

 thei same result, so I need not recapitulate the tale of woe. 

 It was most disappointing on looking into the nest to see the 

 two young, nicely feathered but dead. So far they have not 

 gone to nest again, but instead have become sort of foster- 

 parents to four young hybrids as stated above. I should say 

 that though in the same aviary the two species of Cardinals 

 did not interfere with each other in the least. 



Bearded Reedlings {Panunis biannicus) : This is 



