56 



the young one is liatclied, depending on the male all the time 

 for food. During this time single birds only are seen. In the 

 beginning of March I was fortunate enough to obtain an egg; 

 it was of a very rough texture, and was no doubt originally 

 white, but when I got it the egg was stained quite brown. 

 (Ferguison & BoUKDir.LON. Journal of Bombay N.H.S.) 



* * * 



Nesting of Hornbills. It is well known that the 

 Hornbills build their nests in hollows and holes, high up in 

 forest trees, and that the male, when the hen is ready to sit, 

 walls her up. He keeps her supplied with food till the young 

 are ready to leave the nest. The reasons for this curious habit 

 has alwavs been a mystery, to which, however, I think I have 

 obtained a clue. 



I ascertained some time ago that the common Grey Horn- 

 bill [Meniceros bicornis) moulted the whole of the quill feathers 

 of her wings and tail during the period of incubation. It 

 appears that if this be the general habit, the female would be 

 unable to flv, ar.d would fall an easy prey to any predatory bird 

 or beast which happened to discover her. This, it strikes me, 

 must be the reason why the hen Hornbill is thus protected and 

 concealed by the male bird. 



(W. OSBORN, lA.-General. Journal Bombay N.H.S.) 

 [It appears fairly conclusive that the hen practically boxes her- 

 self up in nest hole, but that in some, if not all, instances 

 she receives some assistance from the male. — Ed.] 



* * « 



The Gouldian Finch. Further reference to Messrs. 

 Payne and Wallace's interesting booklet reveals the following 

 interesting details. Specially interesting, as confirming the 

 deductions which some aviculturists have made from the de- 

 meanour of these birds in the aviary. It is quite conclusive 

 that there is only one species : the three so-called species being 

 merely varieties of the same species. Messrs. Payne and 

 Wallace very seldom came across a pair of Red-heads (vide last 

 issue). They will not breed in a small cage, but will do so in 

 an aviary with plenty c^" flying room. The best nesting recep- 

 tacle is a hollow stump or limb of a tree ; it should contain a 

 number of holes large enough for the Gouldian to deposit its 



