16 Hybrid Breeding. 



An equally curious marriafj^e was that between a cock 

 Diuca Finch and a hen Bay-wing-ed Cow-bird. In this case 

 I frequently saw the Diuca feeding the hen and mating takin^f 

 place, but unfortumtely, they delayed nesting operations until 

 well into October, and the eggs were consequently infertile. 

 One wonders what the young on<"s would have been like 

 from such a curious union. Their nest was built in a conifer, 

 and dead stalks of wild convolvulus were the principal 

 material used in its construction. The two eggs were of 

 the same size and colour, as those of our skylark. The hen 

 did not sit very steadily, in spite gf the fact that the cock 

 was always in close attendance, so at the end of the month 

 I removed the eggs for my collection. 



Several years ago another hen Bay-wing Cowbird built 

 a nest here, so it is evident that these birds are not so 

 parasitical* in their habits, as their glossy cousins. 



Other hybrids bred in these aviaries have iDeen : 



Greenfinch X SikVhim Siskin— the same hen Siskin 

 reared two fine young ones this year with a 

 male of her own species. 



Spice Finch x Bib Finch. 



Squamata X Californian Quail. 



Olivaceoiis X Golden Weaver. 



Necklace X Senegal Dove. 



Accounts of all these happenings have already ap- 

 peared in previous numbers of " B.N." 



From All Sources. 



The following interesting cutting from the Sydney Mail, were sent 

 by J Hume, sume time ago, and have been overlooked. — Ed. 



Wiiru-iRONjiD Chat and Family: E. CM .—Walking along our 

 creek some weeks ago, I saw the hen bird of the White-fronted Chat 

 fly out of a furze bush, and alighting on ihc ground at some distance, 

 simulate a broken wing with much cleverness. Knowing by this worn-out 

 ruse that a nest must be near, I looked, and found it a few feet from 

 the ground i n the golden-flowering bu.h. I', w.i* a deep, cup-shaped struc- 

 ture, neatly woven of dry grasses, and smo'italy lined with fibres and wool. 



The Bay-winged Cowbird is not a parasitical species. — Ed, 



