The Frd-hrrnsfnJ FI//ra/chrr. nr,;, 



tli(^ class n^oiii- to a pair n[ Wall ( 'ivi^pcrs. Tli(> (lillir-ully of 

 .uctliii-' ilii- capalvlc liini-kccpcr Id wrilc abniil liis Mrds is, 

 I think, lu-clty well known, ami I liavo only succeeded in 

 ycltiny a \ei'y bricl' account I'i'oin liiin, as follows :—- 



Mv BED-imKAsrion Fia-(At< iiioi; : "I am afi'aid (hat 

 "T liavo almnst for-otten wliat liffle 1 knew about tlie 

 ■ l\e(i-lireaste(| l-'lycatclier, wliicji occupies the place of lion- 

 "<iur, and is so akly poi'ti'aycd liy Mr. (ioodcliild in this 

 "jiioiith's jua^-azine. It was in my possession six iuonlhs, 

 ".;in(l was a most dcdiirhtful liird in a c;m-e (unforlunaiidy 

 "I liave no aviari(>s), it lieing very tame and fearU\ss; l)ut 

 "1 found it somewhat (hdicato, as when T could .ii'ct no in- 

 "sect-lifc liut mealworms, it soon sickenerl and died. Tliis 

 " U rather st'-ange, as I liave since kept a hen of this species 

 "for nearly a year, which I did not take any trouble with 

 "at all, for it simply shared a small flight with some other 

 '■ J'lycatchers, White-eyes, etc., and where it got nothing 

 "special in the way of food, but just an ordinary mixture 

 ":and mealworms cut in halves."— C. T. Maxwell. 



The above experience speaks for itself: personally 

 I have not found Flycatchers difficult to keep, once they have 

 been nursed over the prostration, which usually follows im- 

 portation. I find these, and the Redstarts and Robins take insect- 

 ivorous mixture, insects, and a fcAv sips of the milk-sop 

 occasionally, but, my l)irds have been kept either in indoor- 

 flights or a garden aviary, M'^here, in addition to the mealworms, 

 etc. supplied, they captured endless midges and other insects, 

 even during any genial autumn or winter day. 



I strongly recommend the Mnscicapidnc to any mem- 

 hov i-equiring birds of character, and, capable of being made 

 pets of, whether kept in cage or aviary. 



Breeding of Turtle Dove Hybrids, etc. 



By Ehnkst Spkankling. 

 I believe it is well known that the hybrids between 

 the Avild Turtle Dove (Turtur turtur) and the common Barbary 

 Uove {Turtur risorius) are fertile, but a few remarks thei'eon 

 may not be out of place. In tlic autumn of the year 1911 a 

 pair of young. Hand-reared Wild Turtle Doves in immature 



