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jeoitonal. 



The Bronze-wing x Magpie Manniliin Hybrici: This 

 bird, which I briefly noted in our last issue, is now in almost 

 mature plumage, and from being a plain brown bird, it now 

 ]night easily be taken for a small specimen of the Magpie 

 Mannikin (also known as the Pied Grassfinch). This change 

 has not been brought about "by a moult, for the bird has not 

 shed a feather, but by a growth of colour in the feathers. It 

 was most interesting to watch this change, the under surface 

 growing, at first almost imperceptably lighter, and the upper 

 surface correspondingly darker. The whole of the head and 

 neck are glossy black, and the under surface is white slightly 

 stained with buff; upper surface, dark umber-brown ; the bar- 

 rings on the rump of Bronze-wing are so far not present in the 

 hybrid, and the side barrings are a compromise of those of its 

 parents. It has the Bronze-wing's tail as to form and colour, 

 and there are several points to remind one of the Bronze-wing, 

 though it decidedh', at a first glance, looks like a small Magpie 

 Mannikin. 



Ttie Birds at Toddington Manor: vSpending a weekend 

 at Bedford last month, I took advantage of the opportunity to 

 call and see Mrs. Warren Vernon's birds. My visit (owing to 

 the train service) was but a short one, so am unable to give as 

 full a review as the case merits. Here was another case of 

 birds in cages (these had been made to Mrs. Vernon's own 

 design, and were very complete, roomy, and in every way 

 admirable), being happ}^ and in good condition, this was ver}' 

 evident from their demeanour. In one were four Tanagers, viz., 

 Blue, Scarlet, Superb, and Tricolor, all (j 's and in finest condi- 

 tion. In other cages were Chinese Dyal Birds and Indian 

 Shamah, though moulting, apparently healthy and in good 

 condition. I noticed in other cages what interested me per- 

 haps more than all, a Wood Warbler and a Stonechat, both 

 young males of the year, almost in mature plumage, very tame 

 and in exquisite condition, not a feather appearing out of place. 

 I also noticed five young Bullfinches, birds of the year and 

 showing the adult plumage. In another large flight cage were 

 six pairs of Zebra Waxbills, two Willow Warblers (interesting 



