Correspondence.



147



very good, and be really enables the beginner to distinguish

readily between two easily confused species— P. rosa and P.

cyanocephala : though here again one would have liked a plate of

the two species side by side.


In Polytelis he gives a charming plate of Barraband’s

Parrakeet, but as that is a fairly well known species it might

have been better to have given one of Spathopterus alexandrce.

By the way, it really seems like divisions run mad, when a bird

so obviously a Polytelis is erected into a separate genus 011

account of a slight difference in one wing feather ! However,

that is not Mr. Seth-Smith’s fault, though the British Museum

Catalogue of 1891 does not separate it.


The following parts will be awaited with much interest.


It would be a help to a good many people if a diagram of

a bird were given, with all the separate parts such as lores,

scapulars, primaries, secondaries, etc. clearly marked out. The

professional phraseology is to many people so much Greek.


F. G. Dutton.



CORRESPONDENCE.


“HYBRIDS ” (see page 78 J.


Sir, —On pages 6 and 7 ofVol. VI., there is a notice of some birds reared

in my outdoor aviary by a cock White-throated Finch and a hen Canary.

I decided afterwards that the father of the two hybrids was the Bearded

Seedeater mentioned at the beginning of the article. I have the variegated

one now ; he is a lovely singer, and very brilliant in colouring.


Mr. Norwood might like to have his attention drawn to this.


Grace Ashford.


NIGHTINGALE NOT MOULTING.


Sir,— I should like an opinion on the following :


“I11 November, 1901, I got a cock Nightingale, but since I got it it has

never moulted, and although I pulled its tail in October (the feathers being

all broken) the new feathers have not come. The bird has been in perfect

health to all appearances, and is now singing with “ open mouth ” every

daj T . I feel quite satisfied with the food I am giving my birds. I have

another Nightingale, and also a Blackcap and Woodlark in full song—these



