36 Nans. [vffxx& 



another place. As we had such a dry spring season. I was for 

 a time puzzled how the birds could find food (insect life) for 

 so many families ; but at last I noticed that the birds had each 

 time built over a small irrigation drain, which, causing the 

 grass to grow, yielded the desired Eood. I have broughl this 

 under notice to emphasize the fact that it is very necessary to 

 fight persistently for the lives of our feathered friends.— 

 J. Gabriel. Kew. ioth Ma v. 1915. 



Magpie's Nest in a Curious Position. — During a recenl 

 visit of my daughter to Lome, she was shown by .1 resident, 

 Miss M. H. Gaynor, a magpie's nest, which the bird (a tame 

 one) had built in a most extraordinary place — viz., on a bedroom 

 dressing-table. The nest, a photograph of which lias been 

 kindly sent to me, is built of twigs of wood, pieces of coloured 

 cloths, rope, and fencing and other wire. Dining the process 

 of building Miss Gaynor placed a piece of wire across the nest; 

 this was, however, cast on to the floor, but was replaced by the 

 bird itself a day or two afterwards. A small mirror on the 

 table was moved aside, and a pincushion was pushed on to 

 the floor. As the breeding season is in July. August, and 

 September, it is a puzzle why the bird should choose the latter 

 end of the summer for it-, work. Two wild magpies — father 

 and son — have of late been " whistling at the gate." and our 

 lady shows distinct preference foi the son. The nest has been 

 promised to me for museum purposes, J. Gabriel, roth May, 



The Warbling Grass-Parrakeet. Towards the end of 

 i'ii 3 Mr. Ernesl Williams, of Bennett-street, North Fitzroy, 

 broughl lom young Warbling Grass-Parrakects (Mtiopsittacus 

 undulatus) from the Murrumbidgee River. They were mined 

 Loose in a large box cage. One of the females escaped, hut in 

 [uly lasl the othei one laid ;i 'hitch of eggs and reared six young 

 Immediately the young ones led the nesl the mother 

 laid again, and reared six more, she continued a1 this rate 

 until twenty-four young one- were flying. Thinking breeding 

 was over, Mr. Williams cleaned out the cage and scalded the 

 log, returning the paii "i old birds to the cage. In a few days 

 the female laid again, and the last lot must have consisted oi 

 nine eggs, as two were thrown out. each containing a young 



one. Mi. Williams then tipped up the lor; into his hand, and 



seven live young ones rolled out, some nearly feathered and 

 others very small. They are nil flying now. Thus they have 

 reared thirty-one young ones since they commenced breeding 

 in July. This does not represenl ill the eggs laid, as on several 

 found on t he floor of th I have 



frequently visited Mr. Williams and watched the progress ol 

 this remarkably prolific paii ol birds, some ol whose progeny 

 are now in my aviary. — G. A. KeartLAND. 



