272 Reviews.



NESTING OF THE ORANGE-HEADED GROUND THRUSH.


Geocichla citrina.


Sir, —In May’, my pair of Orange-headed Ground Thrushes built a

nest on the broad ledge of a nesting-box, fixed high up in the aviary under

the overhanging roof which partly covers in an outside wire flight.


The nest was about twelve feet up, and was composed of moss as a

foundation, very neatly put together, and lined with fine grass-stems.

There were three eggs, rather smaller than a Blackbird’s ( 3 ferula) of a pale

blue, blotched with rufous, especially at the stouter ends, where the spots

were thickly laid on.


Three young hatched, and thrived for a week or ten days, when they

were found thrown out of the nest, and carried some distance from it.

I fancy they had died first, and were removed by the parent birds. They

were just beginning to feather, and pale buff-orange could be seen on the

breast at the tip of the quills.


I fancy these beautiful Thrushes have not nested in England, but I

may be mistaken ; at any rate, the death of the young ones was one of the

great disappointments through which a keen aviculturist has to go.


The parent birds had been well supplied with earth-worms, gentles

and cockroaches, and both seemed to be anxious for the welfare of their

progeny. No other bird was ever seen to go near the nest, and I do not

think that any mouse did either. Hubert I). AsTr.EY.



REVIEWS.


BIRD CATCHING AND BIRD CAGING.*


We have recently received a little pamphlet with the title

“ The other Side of the Bars ” issued by the Humanitarian Society

and accompanying it a short note asking for review or criticism.

This pamphlet, needless to say, gives but one aspect to the case

and that aspect painted in colours so lurid that we feel inclined

to doubt the authenticity of some of the statements, and are quite

certain that, even if true in isolated instances, which we do not

for one moment admit, they do not represent a fair and average

account of the majority of bird dealers’ shops. Were we so

disposed we could under the same title “ The other Side of the

Bars” draw a much happier and perfectly true picture of the

“miserable creatures” singing not “for relief” but from full

enjoyment of health and vigour. We could tell of caged birds



“ The other side of the Bars." 8vo. 24pp. illustrated. London : The Humanitarian

I.kague, 53, Chancery Lane. Price 3d.



