287 



pointed out by Mr. R. Phillipps, Mr. Seth-Suiith, and others, 

 these six fall into three groups of two — the two in each case 

 closely resembling each other and differing markedly from the 

 other species. P. acuticanda and P. ciiicta are certainly much 

 alike, and hybrids have been freely bred, but I have never 

 before heard of deliberate cross-pairing when tlie birds have 

 the opportunil}' of mating with examples of their own species. 

 This incident in Mrs. Dennis's aviary is of great interest. 



.Such cross-pairing constantly occurs between the Red- 

 lieaded Gonldian Finch {P. inirabilis) and the Black-headed {P. 

 gouldice), and indeed these species (if distinct species they 

 l)e) appear to prefer the opposite sort to their own kind, so 

 that what has happened in the case of Mrs. Dennis's Longtails 

 and Parsons is quite what might be expected in the case of 

 Gouldians. Probably the third group, consisting of the White- 

 eared Grassfinch {P leucolis) and the Masked Grassfinch {P. 

 persotiata), would behave in the same waj', though I do uot 

 think that this has j'et been recorded. 



One might say that this phenomenon throws doubt on the 

 specific distinctness in each case — but then, after all, no one 

 knows what a species really is. Horatio R. Fillmur. 



[Two odd birds, a male P. acuticauda, and a female P. 

 personaia, paired, built a nest, and sat closely on three eggs, 

 for three weeks; the eggs were clear. During the Autumn 

 moult (1905) P. personaia died. Now an unmated P. o^oiildice is 

 paired to the P. acuticauda, but so far nothing has resulted from 

 the union. Rd ] 



