272 Corrcsf^ondence. 



Corresjiondence. 



BLACKBIRD x THRUSH HYBRID. 



Sir.- — In reply to Dr. Ilopkin.son's enquiry in J').N. August last; my 

 friend Mr. T. Heath, who I believe has all the C.P Cats, from the beginning, 

 informs me that the entry in the C.P Cat. of February, 1872 is as follows : 

 " Mr. A. Skinner, Blackbird x Thrush, cock, age 16 months, price £2 5s. " 

 Exhibition address: " 121, West Street, Faversham."' 



The entr}' would indicate^ that the Blackbird was the male. This bird 

 was awarded one of the three prizes, and the Judge marked the judging-sli-) 

 • A very good class " (13 entries). 



One would think the exhibitor bred the bird, as he gives its age. 

 Hampstead, N.W., November 24, 1Q17. G. CRABB. 



COCKATOO NESTING NOTES. 



Sir, — I am afraid I haven't very much to report to you in the bird- 

 breeding line this season, as my time is too fully occupied to attend to the 

 birds myself and all my capable men — where live-stock are concerned- — have 

 joined the colours. Consequently I have very few birds at the present time. 

 My old pair of Cacattta galcrita went to nest again this year and commenced 

 sitting. After a short time I noticed that the hen bird only came down to 

 feed, and as this continued for a few days I caught her up and visited the nest. 

 The latter was deserted, as I feared, and I can only presume the cock fell a 

 victim to some neighbouring " sportsman." I also had misfortune in attempt- 

 ing to breed the cross of Cacatna leadbcatcri x C. i^alcnta. I wintered a 

 l^air of these birds together in a cage, and in the spring put them out in a 

 flight. The hen duly laid, but about this time I had urgent business to attend 

 to on an outlying farm, which necessitated my absence from home for a few 

 days.. I 



On my return I found the cock bird — the Leadbeater'.s — crawling mis- I 

 crably about on the floor, and on picking him up found he had a badly 

 broken wing and that this had become mortified. I did my best for him, but, 

 as I anticipated, he was dead the next morning. Apparently he had become 

 aggressive, and the attendant, valuing his own skin more than any prospec- 

 tive hybrids, had felled him with a broom handle with the above unfortunate 

 result. 



1 have a young hybrid (Tiiftitr risorious x T. scnegalensis) just able to 

 teed itself. On consulting your interesting book " Species which have reared 

 young, etc.," I was surprised to see this cross was not included. Can this 

 be an oversight ? * 



Paignton, October 17. 1917. H. WHITLEY. 



=* We CO not know of any record re this hybrid. If any member knows 

 of any previous instance of this cross being successfully reared we shall be 

 oleased to receive details. — Ed, 



