OCTOBER, 1917. 



THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB. 



Correspondence. 



IS THE PIN-TAILED WHYDAH PARASITIC? 



Sir. — To Dr. Ilopkinson's implied query vide pages 212-4 of this issue, 

 I can only offer indefinite evidence. I saw the young- Whydah referred to 

 while staying with Mrs. Anningson shortly after it had made its exit igom the 

 nest. Mrs. Anningson was unable to say definitely which nest it had emerged 

 from, but pointed out a nest, the domicile of a pair of Ribbon Finches, as the 

 one, judging from the behaviour of Jhe young bird, it had come from, and as 

 the result of two days observations of its movements, I concurred in her 

 opinion. Both the Pintails watched over it and occasionally fed it, as. also 

 did the Ribboji Finches. This evidence is, I admit, very inconclusive, but it 

 certainly points to the fact of the Pintail as being a parasitic species. It also 

 introduces another interesting feature, that in captivity (in this individual 

 case at any rate), if not in its native wilds, its legitimate parents took an inter- 

 est in their offspring and actually fed it irregularly — at the time I cross- 

 questioned Mrs. Anningson closely concerning the rearing of this bird, but 

 she could supply scarcely any details, as the youngster was ;i 1)rancher 

 before she was cognisant of its e.xistence. 



It would be of great interest if our members generally would keep this 

 species amid a mixed collection in a roomy garden aviary, till they succeed 

 in breeding it, and thus supply the lacking data. 



Tliere appears to be no room for doubt that the s]>ecies is parasitic. 



Lingfield. October 9th, 1917. W. T. PAGE. 



Notices to Members. 



Aviary Episodes and Nesting Notes : Very few accounts of these 

 have been sent in this yeiir, which is a matter of regret. It would, add greatly 

 to the interest of the Club Journal if there were many more of these, 

 especially if weather and nature of soil were noted, more particularly with 

 unsuccessful attempts of species to reproduce their kind. 



New Members: As we are rapidly nearing the end of another ckil) 

 year, the present is a good time to make an effort to increase our roll — bv 

 the time the war ends there will be many gaps to fill — it is only by the united 

 efforts of all our members that any continuous increase can be obtained, and 

 we pressingly urge each member to make the Club and its Objects known 

 to all birds keepers and lovers, whether of British or Foreign species. 



SIDNEY WILLIAMS, Hon. Sec. and Treasurer. 

 WESLEY T. PAGE, Hon. Editor. 



