Obituary. 219 



Obituary. 



HERBERT GOODCHILD. 



We much regret to announce the death of this talented 

 artist. The sense of loss to most of our members will be almost 

 a personal one. as, with very few exceptions, all the coloured 

 plates which have adorned jiast volumes of B.X. have been from 

 his brush; and very many of our monochrome plates were also 

 evidences of his skill. As a delineator of birds he had very few 

 rivals and certainly none excelled him. The feather technique 

 of his drawings was certainly unrivalled. 



His loss is an aftermath of the awful five years of war, 

 during which he worked, much beyond his powers of endurance, 

 on munitions unceasingly. In liis weakened state a chill caused 

 pleurisy and other complications which terminated fatally on 

 October 4th. 



He had been a member of F.B.C. almost from its 

 inception; he was also a keen ornithologist, and knew our native 

 birds, both by sight and ear, as few do. 



He was a genial and interesting companion, and will be 

 much missed by many, by all who knew him well. His death 

 leaves a void which will not be readily tilled. W.T.P. 



Correspondence. 



THE SEASON 1919. 



Sir, — Like other aviculturists I have had man}' less birds than in 

 pre-war times, so that, on the whole, I do not complain of the results. 



CocKATEELS : My pair of this pleasing and interesting species has done 

 well. 



1st brood 4 eggs, 2 young fully reared. 

 2nd brood 8 eggs, 5 young fully reared. 



The young birds are now all flying around in good style. They are 

 in an enclosure by themselves. The pair have now (September 21st) gone 

 to nest for the third time ; do not at present know the number of eggs in this 

 clutch. 



Masked Weaver x Greenfinch Hybrid : At the early part of the 

 year a cock Masked Weaver and a hen Greenfinch mated, constructed a nest, 

 at least the hen did. of the ordinary greenfinch-type : four eggs were laid, of 

 which only one hatched out. 



The young hybrid is now fully reared, of the same size as his father 

 (Masked W^eaver). and squat in shape; the beak is heavv and bronze-green 

 in colour. (If Mr. Croker will write out the whole story with as full details a-j 

 possible, he will be entitled to the Club's breeding medal. — Ed.). 



