Correspondence.



‘200



this one means carrying a small excrescence of feathers in the occipital

region. The head and upper neck are black; there is a small turquoise-

blue superciliary line; breast and under-parts pure white and back ashy

brown ; tail and flight feathers black, the former showing the circular

white spot common to a good many Jays and Pies. These birds are

obviously less beautiful than Mr. Astley’s, but they are most amusing

clowns, and have very well-developed ventriloquial powers; this is

particularly well demonstrated in the male when a titbit, such as a

mouse or sparrow, is put on the feeding-tray. It is obviously his

method of calling the hen’s attention to the coming feast.


May I respectfully point out to Mr. Astley that the Azure Jay is

usually known as C. cceruleus, and not azureus, a much more fitting

if somewhat vague specific name.


Maurice Amsler.


Eton.


November 8, 1920.



AN APPRECIATION


Sirs, — Mr. Seth-Smith’s “ Stray Notes ” are to my mind a

very welcome addition, and I cannot help thinking that many readers

besides myself would like to see them continued.


Fred. D. Welch.


CHESTNUT-WINGED STARLINGS


Sirs, —At Gamage’s there were not long ago several individuals of

a species which was called the Chestnut-winged Starling. I believe

these birds to be Amydrus fulvipennis. Tristram discovered in

Palestine A. tristrami, which very closely resembles the African

species, so much so that at first it was thought to be identical. This

Palestinian Amydrus was found amongst the cliffs and desert rooks

in the neighbourhood of the Dead Sea, in the gorge of the Kedron.


I have a pair of A. fulvipennis, and very handsome these birds are

In size, that of a rather large Blackbird ( Merula ) ; the male, glossy

black with green reflections and chestnut primaries, the female having

a dark ash-grey head and body of duller black than the male’s, but

with the same primaries of chestnut. These birds utter a loud,

flute-like note, which is decidedly musical. The tail is rather wedge-



