Correspondence, Notes, etc.



249



some kind is very desirable. Wheat and other seeds grown in the aviary

give great satisfaction, the young shoots being pulled np by some species,

and the green tips nibbled by others.


And what will suit the Greenfinch will serve the Zebra Finch. I

never fed them specially. When birds are loose in the aviary, they manage

to pick up what they require, and give marvellously little trouble in warm

weather.


The ivy against the house is splendid for them ; but you will be wise

not to inspect the nests.


As far as I have been able to observe, young Zebra Finches come out

in about I2| days, and Greenfinches in about 13 days; but I observe that

Dr. Butler, in Foreign Finches, states that the eggs of Zebra Finches

are hatched in about 11 days.


Reginald Phieeipps.



WHAT BIRD ?


Sir,—I have some African Waxbills like the common Grey Waxbill,

but they have black bills instead of red, and dark-red tails; also bright

patches of red on their wings, something like the Auroras. They look so

pretty in the sun. They came with the Common Waxbills, Cordon Bleus,

and others, and had no red when I bought them a few mouths ago. Can

you tell me what they are ?


G. Tommasi Baedeeei.


The Jollowing reply has been sent to the Contessa Baldelli:


Your question respecting the new Waxbills is certainty puzzling: the

nearest species that I can find is the Crimson-rumped Waxbill ( Estrilda

rhodopyga) from Northern to Equatorial Africa : but the latter is said to

have the cutting-edges and base of the beak red, probably as in the

Lavender Finch*.


I see no reason why this species should not occasionally be brought

over with other Equatorial species; but, hitherto it has not, I think, been

recognized in the bird-market.


A. G. BUTEER.



JAVA SPARROWS.


Sir,—I should be much obliged for advice about breeding and

rearing Java Sparrows in confinement. I have a pair which laid many

eggs last spring, and sat well for a fortnight and then ate their eggs. Have


* In a letter since received the Contessa informs me that the cutting-edges of the

mandibles are red , that the birds are no larger than the Common Waxbill and have a

similar crimson streak from the base of the beak to the eye; the rump is crimson, and

there are splotches of red on the wings.—A. G. B.



