ISO 



what we are only too often doomed to endure at the 

 hands of some writers upon ])irds; with regard to the 

 second there is nothing inchided but what the author's 

 scientific mind knows to be correct; while as to the 

 illustrations, these, as we have said before, simply 

 mark a new departure in the art of black and white. 



This part figures the Swallow, Martin, Sand- 

 martin, Greenfinch, Hawfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, 

 Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Linnet, 

 the two Redpolls, the Twite, and the Bullfinch, this 

 last being a particularly charming plate. 



Mr. Stonham gives some exceedingly valuable in- 

 formation regarding the insectivorous habits of what 

 are generally, but erroneously, regarded as purely 

 seed eating birds. 



(Torrcsponbence. 



THE DRTJCACY OF FIRRFINCHES. 

 Sir, — In his interesting " Nesting Notes for 1906," wbicli 

 appear in your issue for April, Mr. Tescheniaker dwells upon 

 the dehcacy of Firefinches and Cordon Blens, and expresses 

 the opinion that these species, and also Laveiidet Finclies and 

 Pintailed Nonpareils, ought not to be imported l)ecanse of the 

 large proportion which die during or shortly after importation. 

 Of the fact of the mortality there can be no doubt, and I have 

 full sympathy with Mr. Teschemaker's wish that an importation 

 which results in such a high death-rate should be discouraged. 

 But I think that deaths are largely preventable, and are bv no 

 means directly attributable to change of climate. Dr. Hopkin- 

 son brought home from the Gambia, in considerable numbers. 

 Fire-finches of various species, and his examples appear to be on 

 the whole, neither more nor less liable to succumb to the 

 change of climate than other Waxbills. Last summer he 

 kindly presented me with two, a Spotted Firefinch and a 



