120



PocphiLa alropygialis, a rare Grassfinch which was discovered not

so many years ago, and which, not so many years ago, eluded

even Dr. Bowdler Sharpe (Br. Mus. Catalogue ; Vol. XIII, p.375).

We and the Australians, thanks to the Boers and Mr. Chamberlain,,

are now one people ; and it will be a pity, as has been done with

several other species, if we call the Ringed Finch by a name

which properly belongs to a quite distinct species, and which we

may hope some enterprising dealer will before very long

introduce to the aviculturists of this country. When it arrives,

let us be ready with its proper name, and not thoughtlessly

dispose of the name beforehand.


Mr. Keartlaud, quoted by A. J. Campbell in Nests and Eggs

of Australian Birds, says of the Ringed Finch, “ This pretty

Finch was only seen near the Fitzroy River, where it was

breeding during February and March. By a close observation of

the material used it is possible to determine to which species of

Finch the nest belongs. The Ringed Finch usually chooses a site

in some drooping branch about ten feet from the ground. In

the case of those examined the outer covering was invariably

very coarse—dead grass loosely woven together—but the lining

was of the finest silver-grass, and a marvel of neatness. Six

eggs form the usual clutch. Although some were perfectly white,

one clutch from which I caught the bird had a faint bluish tinge,

similar to those of the Chestnut-eared Finch.”



REVIEW.



AN ORNITHOLOGIST IN THE SOUDAN.*


With the conquest of the Kalifa and his followers the

study of the fauna of the Soudan, which had been out of the

question for fifteen years became once more possible, and the

last day of February, 1900, saw an Ornithologist in the person of

Mr. Harry F\ Witherby, leaving England in quest of the birds

inhabiting the banks of the White Nile. At Marseilles Mr.

Witherby was joined by two taxidermists who were to accompany

him on his expedition, and the three reached Cairo on March 6th.

The journey from there to the Soudan Capital is described in an

interesting and graphic way in the volume before us, though few

birds were observed, three species only being mentioned.


At Omdurman birds were still very scarce, there being no



• Bird Hunting on the White Nile by Harry F. Witherby, London ; Office of

“ Knowledge,’’ 326, High Holborn. Price 2/6.



