37G Corn'.y)()})fJr}icp. 



I liope they will notify me at once, stating the name on the ring 

 and tlie nuinhei-. as well as the date ami place where the bird was 

 found. I will thiMi at once inform them when and whei'e the bird 

 was ringed. Yours faithfully, H. F. WITHEKBV, Editor •'British 

 Birds." 



In August I receive:! a letter from Mr. A. C. Theron dated from " Reit Vallei 

 District Linclley, O.F.S." stating that a Swallow had heen cantured bearing a ring with 

 my name and address. As Mr. Theron gave neither the number of the ling nor the 

 date of capture I asked him for these particulars and have just received his reply and 

 the ring itself. The >ing is number E937, and Mr. Theron informs me that the bird 

 was captured at Reit Vallei on March 16th, 1913, and adds "I do not know when it 

 arrived." This ring was placed on a nestling Swallow by Mr. R. O. Blyth at Skelmorlie, 

 Ayrshire, on July 27th, 1912. 



A few months ago an alult Swallow ringed in Staffordshire was recorded as 

 having been captured near Utrecht, Natal, in December, and the present record is 

 from about one hundred and fifty miles west of that place, which is not far in com. 

 parison with the totil length of the journey. 



In writing of the Natal record I expressed surprise that a Swallow breeding in the 

 far west of Europe should migrate so far east in South Africa, but now that Dr. Hart- 

 ert has shown by his observations in the middle of the Sahara that deserts are not 

 necessarily a bar to the passage of migrating birds, as was formerly supposed, it may 

 perhaps be presumed that these Swallows take a more direct line than one would 

 previously have thought possible. 



This second record, taken in conjunction with the first, is extremely valuable, and 

 we are most grateful both to Mr. Blyth who ringed the Swallow and to Mr. Theron 

 who reported it. 

 Extract from "British Birds," November, 191J. H. F. Witheeby. 



REStLrS, 1913 



Sir, — The following young birds have been fully reared in 

 ftiy aviaries this season: 



5 Bronze-wing Pigeons. (i Black-cheeked Lovebirds. 



8 Diamond Doves. -1 Californian Quail. 



5 Rosella Parrakeets. .5 Gouldian Pinches. 



2 Hybrid Weavers. r» Olive Finches. 



1. Hybrid Silverbill. 5 Cuban Finches. 



3 Cordon Bleus. 



Hyisiud Calii( kn an X Squamata Quail: It will be remem- 

 bered 'that a numTier of this cross were reai'od in my aviaries in 

 1912. This year a paii- of these hybrids have nested and reared 

 three young ones, thus proving the fertility of the cro.ss. fit will 

 be of general interest if Air. Shore-Baily will kindly describe the 

 plumage of the original hybrids, also that of their progeny, as .soon 

 as the latter are in adult plumage. — Ed.] 



The following species ha'che:! out young but did not rear the 

 young to fend for themselves. 

 Alexandrine Pan-akeets. 

 Brush Bronze -wing Pigeons. 

 Guiana X Blue -winged Lovebirds. 

 The following nested but did not hatch 'jut: 

 Bicheno's Finches. 

 Grey Singing Finches, 

 llusty -cheeked Scimitar Babblers, 



