■ Breeding of Hybrids. 51 



devoted to them; they grew rapidly, and leJt the nest on the 

 IGth July. These youngsters were reared entirely on earth - 

 worni.s and gentles, with a few mealworms oeca.sionally. 



Un August 2nd the hen again commenced lo incu- 

 bate three <^^q^, bul 1 look two of them away from her; the 

 other one hatched on August loth, the lirst three young ones 

 at tills thuu being practically independent. 



I'ho plumage of all the hybrids whiU; in the aviary 

 appeared to be almost alike, except that two of them were 

 hfrowner than the other two, especially in certain lights, and 

 these I took to be hens, the two probable cocks which were 

 slaty -black in general appearance, I often heard "recording" 

 their songs. 



The following is a description of one of the " slaty " 

 birds which was killed by Hying at an unprotected window, 

 on December 17th last. 



Whole of upper surface, throat, and chest, l)lack, each 

 feather broadly edged with ashy olive; chin dull white; breast 

 and abdomen ashy with darker centres to the feathers; ventral 

 region uniform asliy, upper and under tail coverts and tail 

 feathers dull black edged with ashy olive; outer webs of 

 secondaries and secondary coverts reddish brown, forming a 

 large whig patch; remainder of wing coverts ashy olive; bill 

 dusky yellow; feet yellowish horn colour. 



On Jan. 6th, one of the browner coloured plumaged 

 birds met with a similar accident, and I sent the body to our 

 Editor, the two remaining ones are at present in the best' 

 possible health ami plumage, the supposed male has not yet 

 sung in earnest, but, I often hear him practisiuj^. 



■■ 



Hybrids which have been Reared in Captivity, 



By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., etc. 



I must preface this list, as I did tliat of tiie speciefe, by 

 stating that it can only be made fully complete and correct hy 

 the CO -operation of all, which, I trust will be forthcoming, so that 

 any errors may be eliminated and omissions made good. With some 

 Groups it has been impossible to obtain definite information as to 

 whether they have been reared by foster-parents, or other artificia] 

 means; such cases must stand unless readers can disprove them. 



