Correspondence



181



sounds I know. I can find nothing about C. albicapilla, but the two

following notes from the Ibis about C. verticalis are apposite, and

will form a suitable conclusion.


Of this species Major H. J. Kendall, writing on the birds of Sierra

Leone, says (Ibis, 1914, p. 207):—


“ This handsome bird is more often heard than seen. It has a

fine song which it utters at sundown from the midst of the

densest thickets, and it is only during its short flights from one

thicket to another that one catches sight of it.”


In the 1902 volume C'apt. Boyd Alexander speaks of its mellow

trills; and of melanonota, a sub-species of C. verticalis, Mr. V. G. K.

van Someren, in an account of the Birds of Uganda, etc. (Ibis, 1916,

p. 472), says that “ it is quite a good singer and mimic ”.



CORRESPONDENCE


HIMALAYAN SISKINS


Sirs,— In my record of birds which have bred in captivity

there are a good many corrections to make. One of these refers to the

two Siskins, Spinus tibetanus (Hume), the Sikhim Siskin, and

II ypacanthis spinoides (Vigors), the Himalayan Siskin. These two

birds are both often known as “ Himalayan Siskins ”, hence the

confusion in the entries dealing with them.


Of H. spinoides, I gave the first breeder as “ Teshemaker, 1914.

See Bird Notes, 1914, 278 ”. I believe now that this entry should

be transferred to S. tibetanus, and be replaced by “ 1st. Shore Baily,

1918. See A.M. 1919, 92 ”. Is this so ?


As regards hybrids the entries are : Himalayan Siskin X Green¬

finch, Bright, 1916. See Bird Notes, 1916, 83. Greenfinch X

Himalayan Siskin, Bright. See Bird Notes, 1917, 195. Himalayan

Siskin/Greenfinch hybrid X Greenfinch, Bright. See Bird Notes,

1917, 195. Which Siskin is this, tibetanus or spinoides ?


The other hybrid entry is: Greenfinch X Sikhim Siskin (H.

spinoides), Shore Baily. See A.M., 1919, 92. This I presume is

certainly spinoides.


Can the breeders or others answer these questions or help towards

the correction of the record ?



E. Hopkinson.



