44



Correspondence.



under observation until it died. It was a hen. The cock is a beautiful verdigris

blue bird with black throat, and I believe has one or two black bars on the

flanks. A male I have not seen alive, but I have frequently seen skins of this

bird in S. American cases of stuffed birds. Although it feeds like a tanager it

sits more bolt upright and resembles some of the S- American chatterers, our

waxwing and the manakins (Pipra), and of course has a frog-like rictal

arrangement. It is certainly as much at one end as Tanagridce, as Saltators

are at the other, the latter resembling cardinals more than anything else.

Euphonia as a group verges in the direction of this bird ( Procnias ), in as far as

outside appearances go.


The specimen I had under observation was a hen, although we waited a

year to see if it was in immature plumage. It was an enormous eater and a

distinctly uninteresting bird. ALLEN SILVER.


PREVIOUS BREEDING OF BEARDED TITS.


Dr. Lovell-Keays is after all not the first to breed the Bearded tit. Mr.

Richardson Carr has done so successfully for several years with three or four pairs,

and there has been apparently no difficulty about it. The aviary in which these

birds are kept is a large one with a pond ; reeds, etc., on the Tring Park estate.


TO THE MEMBERS.


The kind words that appeared in the October Magazine from the executive

council of the Society are very encouraging. Whatever harmful effects the great

and terrible war may have upon us in the future, we can at any rate congratulate

ourselves upon our coming of age, expressing the hope, as in the case of others

who do likewise, that we may be spared to live long and prosperously.


Then, too, those whose coming of age is celebrated, are accustomed to

receive gifts, and one wonders whether in spite of further taxation, some of our

members will think fit to make any offerings towards the heavy expenses of the

illustration fund ! That they will do all they can towards keeping up the

magazine by writing for it, I feel confident; and if, as editor, I may be allowed

to personally thank those who have contributed in this way, I do so most

gratefully. Gentlemen of the medical profession who are always busy, but who

have had their work doubled of late, have set an example of what can be done,

and I feel sure the Society is especially grateful to Dr. Amsler and Dr. Lovell-

Keays. But it may be invidious to mention especial names, although I do it,

for there are other members, such as Lord Tavistock, with his long and interest¬

ing papers, whom one knows have been unceasingly working in connection with

the war.


Dr. E. Hopkinson we also cordially thank for his invaluable list of the

English names of the Parrots, a list which for some months has not only pro¬

vided us with a fund of lasting information, but has also saved me from many

a qualm and a sigh as to whether I should have sufficient ‘ copy ’ ! but the Society

thanks all those who help with their pens and purses.


Hubert D. astley, Editor.



