115 



Perhaps the clue to this lies in the dictum of Thomson 

 and Geddes, that the male element has always katabolic 

 tendencies, while those of the female are anabolic. 

 The hen tends to conserve energ}^ to store it up within 

 herself, while the cock tends to dissipate it in such 

 form as showy plumage, ornaments, pugnacity and 

 song. 



[The above interesting contribution only came to hand just 

 ou going to press, but one or two cases nia}' be hurriedly cited. 

 In my garden-aviary were pairs of Grey and Pope Cardinals. 

 The Popes were a pair of vigorous birds, as was also the female 

 Grey, but the male, though in iine plumage, was always some- 

 what lacking in vigour ; last September the female Pope died, 

 and early this year the male Pope courted and succeeded in 

 winning and retaining the female Grey. I may add that the 

 male Grey still occupies the same aviary, and the three birds 

 live together in fair amity, though at times the male Grey gets 

 a little chased about, both by his late wife and the male Pope ; 

 this only occurs when he gets into close proximity of either of 

 them. In my own aviary (and I think this is the general 

 experience) the female Black-headed Gouldian P'inch will have 

 nothing to do with a male Black-head if an unmated Red-head 

 be available, and if he should be mated my experience is she 

 will fight for him, and she will have to be removed if successful 

 breeding is to result: separated and out of sight of the Red- 

 head, she duly paired with the hitherto despised Black-head. — 

 Ed.] 



lEDitorial. 



STRAY NOTES, ETC. 



Nesting of Aurora Finches : a brood of Aurora Finches 



has been hatched iu the aviaries of Mr. K. Suggitt. Unfortunately, 

 owing to some unknown cause, the young birds died when fifteen days old. 

 As the old birds are healthy and building again, it is to be hoped that com- 

 plete success will attend their second effort. 



Hybrid Cardinals : Mr. Aroustem has had a clutch of 



