286 



lie iiiiglit as a Vice-President be thought to endorse them, and 

 so be sends in liis resignation. 



If I am in error in expressing an opinion not accepted by 

 Mr. Clarke I feel that my sin is altogether disproportionate to 

 the penalty inflicted upon the Foreign Bird Club, by the resig- 

 nation of Mr. Clarke. 



All I say in defence is that other men in this country and 

 on tlie Continent have interested themselves in the diseases of 

 birds, and that I have made myself acquainted with their work. 

 I have mj'self kept birds and observed their diseases. Upon 

 my own observations and the recorded experience of others I 

 penned my note to which Mr. Clarke objects. 



I am not cock-sure of my knowledge. I allow that it may 

 he supplemented, corrected, or approved b\' future research, 

 but meantime I adopt Mr. Clarke's words, that "time will show 

 that my statements are true and that is enough for me." 



One thing is certain, that time will elucidate the truth, 

 and that is all I aim at. I shall be only too glad to acknow- 

 ledge my errors in the light of conclusive evidence. 



Hknky Gray, M.R.C.V.S. 



I<ONG-TAILHD GRASSI'INCHKS PAIRING WITH 

 PARSON FINCHES. 



Sir, — For some time I have had a pair of Parson Finches in a small 

 aviary with other foreign finches. During the summer I had a pair of Long- 

 tailed Grassfinches sent to me. I was surprised to see how very nearly these 

 birds resembled the Parson Finches, except in the colour of their beaks. 

 On endeavouring to look them up in two or three books, I could find no 

 description or mention of them. I turned the[Long-taiIed Grassfinches out 

 with the other birds, and now notice that they have paired with the Parson 

 Binches, z.e. one of each species with one of the other. 



I should be glad to know, through Bird Notes, if the Long-tailed Grass- 

 finch is a distinct species, or if it is at all related to the Parson Finch. If so, 

 s it unusual for them to pair together ? Evelyn Dknnis. 



The Long-tailed Grassfinch {Poephila acnticatida) is alwaj's 

 regarded as a distinct species from the Parson Finch [Poephila 

 cincta). 



The genus Poephila comprises six species, and, as has been 



