PONDS, PADDOCKS, AND AVIARIES 61 



" The polecat ferrets are first-rate ratters, but are rather 

 big for the job. I have not found them particularly savage. 

 If your young badgers are not too old, you will find that 

 by keeping a good-tempered young dog or two with them, 

 and never allowing them to hide themselves up in the day, 

 they will become as tame and playful as otters." 1 



"June 24//, 1888. 



" I congratulate you on your tame shrike : I lump 

 together all the great grey shrikes, L. major, L. extcubitor, 

 L. meridionalis, L. algeriensis, L. lahtona. All grey birds 

 have a tendency to isabellinism under a hot sun and dry 

 surroundings. T - , S - , D - , and others would, 

 if they could, make species of the sun and moon." 



"August itfh, 1888. 



"I am no ' chattist,' and do not know Pr. borbonica 

 at all. I write entirely without book, and of course 

 know nothing of the habits and voice of your bird,* but 

 being a c lumper ' am at present induced to look upon it 

 as a good race, or sub-species of Pr. rubicola quite as 

 good though, as a species, as Parus britannicus, P. Cypriotes, 

 and many more. 1 



" 3 



1 To E. G. B. Meade-Waldo, Esq. 



2 To the same. 



3 To the same. 



* A true stonechat (Pratincola dacotice), peculiar to the island of 

 Fuerteventura, in which island even it is very local. E. G. B. M-W. 



