221 



going to press, I learn that it contains a brood of four callow 

 young, which are lusty and doing well ; also that three young 

 Cordon Bleus are now on the wing and doing well ; these results 

 speak well for the arrangement and construction of the aviary, 

 which is not unduly large ; yet the birds appeared but little per- 

 turbed by the presence of three persons inside, examining their 

 domestic arrangements. In conclusion I must just note a 

 very tame specimen of the Brown Owl, which had been taken 

 in the grounds, I think, this year. It permitted us to handle 

 it and appeared to enjoy having its poll scratched as much as a 

 parrot. I pass by the Nightjar as Mrs. Vernon is describing it 

 in this issue, though she does not do justice to her interesting 

 and unique pet. Mrs. Vernon is very fortunate iv. having 

 an almost unlimited supply of live insects for the catching, in 

 her extensive grounds. 



Cutthroat x Red-head Finch Hybrid : About the mid- 

 dle of 1906 I bought a pair of Red-headed Finches {A7>iadiiia 

 erythrocephala), the}' did well but got no further than several 

 clutches of eggs. In July of this year the c? died with a tumour 

 over the eye, I soon noticed a batclielor Cutthroat making 

 advances to the widow. I observed nothing further, save that 

 tliey were seldom to be seen about together ; about a fortnight 

 ago I heard young calling for food, but could not fully locate 

 them till this morning (Sept. 28), when I discovered that I have 

 at any rate one, if not two, young hybrids of this cross ; the one 

 I saw is fully fledged and larger than its male parent. I was 

 much interested, when lifting the lid of the box to see a gaping 

 mouth, the interior of which was marked with a pattern 

 exactl\' like wire netting, this pattern was marked in thick 

 lines of pale yellowish white, the spaces between the lines 

 being dull greyish pink. I have endeavoured to figure the bird's 

 mouth from memory in the accompanying diagram, 

 but have not succeeded very well, the pattern 

 in sketch is certainly not so strikingly or clearl}- 

 defined as I saw it, the pale line appearing 

 almost luminous in the darkish interior of the 

 nest box. Its plumage resembles that of the 

 Cutthroat, but as no red is yet to be seen, it is apparently a % , 



