3Ky 



was the grip of botli claw and bill that tlieie is no doubt both birds would 

 have perislied iiiiseral)ly had we not been fortunate enough to discover 

 them in time. After separation they showed their gratitude by biting 

 fiercely at my friend's fingers. On being liberated the first one imme- 

 diately made towards the creek, to slake the burning thirst engendered by 

 the lieat of conflict ; the other was carried some distance and then allowed 

 to escape among the trees. Both were in splendid plumage^, and probably 

 this season's birds. 



A somewhat similar instance was witnessed when we were on a caravan 

 tour round the east coast of Tasmania several summers ago. While on 

 the road near Gould's Country we were attracted by the novel spectacle of 

 an animated ball of brown and greyish feathers by the way side. My 

 friend stepped quietly up to the object and raised it in his hands, when it 

 proved to be nothing less than a couple of hen Superb Warblers engaged 

 in the stress of battle and squeaking so fiercely that we were neither seen 

 nor heard until they lay in our hands.* They were allowed to fly after 

 giving them time to cool down, and when they left, were no doubt, sadder 

 and wiser birds ! " 



* The same thing occurs with many EJiiglisli species, 

 particular!}' among the Buntings. Chaffinches, cock and hen, 

 fight so fiercely when pairing that I have on more than one 

 occasion picked them up locked tightly together, and when 

 released have immediateh' renewed the combat; but once the 

 hen is mastered all this ceases; of course quite a different 

 occurrence to that witnessed by Mr. Dove and his friend. 

 However, such circumstances are not unique among our native 

 birds. 



JAVA SPARROW + SILVERBILL HYBRID: Miss Drum- 

 niond of Errol, N.B. sends me a few notes of the rearing of the 

 above Hybrid in her aviary. It will dotibtless interest many of 

 our members; it certainly must be numbered among the un- 

 likely cases of hybridisation, the difference as to size, etc., being 

 much more striking than in the Hybrid Mannikin for instance, 

 reared in my aviary last year. 



"Probably the account of a Grey Java Sparrow x Silverbill Hybrid 

 " may iuterest some of the members. Three were hatched last February, 

 "but only one was reared, it is a male and a verj' fine bird, with the body 

 " colouring of the Silverbill. In size it is fully as large as the Java, but is 

 "slimmer, the beak is pinkish, there is a broad black patch on the cheeks 

 " and another on the throat ; the tail is black. The Hybrid is now nesting 

 " with an ugly little Spice Finch, the two form a great contrast, and I hope 

 "tlieremaybe some result from this double cro.ss. They have built a 



