140 From Magazines, &c. [ jst "oct. 



From Magazines, &c. 



AvicuLTURAL Society's Awards. — The April, 1910, number of 

 The Avicultural Magazine contains a list of awards of the Society's 

 medal to members for having bred foreign birds in captivity. The 

 list of medal winners includes Mr. W. A. Fasey, for the Blue-winged 

 Grass-Parrakeet {Ncophema vemista), and Mr. H. D. Astley, for the 

 Pileated Parrakeet [Porphyrocephahis spurius). 



Incubation and Fledging Periods in Birds. — An interesting 

 note on these subjects is contributed to the March, 1910, issue of 

 The Zoologist by Mr. S. E. Brock. He gives records for the Mistle- 

 Thrush, Song-Thrush, Blackbird, and other familiar European 

 species. In the Blackbird he has found the period of incubation 

 to extend over 13-14 days ; fledging period, 13-14 days. Starling. 

 — Incubation, 12-13 days ; fledging period, 21-22 days. Sparrow- 

 Hawk. — Incubation, 30-32 days ; fledging period, 28-30 days. 

 Swallows and Starlings are stated to be " notable exceptions to 

 the average small bird in the period required by their young to 

 fledge." It would be interesting to have similar records regarding 

 some of our native birds. 



* * * 



For Agriculturists. — A series of articles on insectivorous 

 birds is being published in The Agricultural Gazette of New South 

 Wales. The series promises to be of value to agriculturists, who 

 are too often ignorant of the services done by birds in keeping 

 injurious insects in check. In the opening article of the series 

 under notice, which appears in the April issue of the Gazette, 

 reference is made to the value of insectivorous birds as " the 

 farmers' friends." The Hooded Robin [Melanodryas bicolor) and 

 the Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin {Eopsaltria aiistralis) are the 

 two species dealt with. A description of the bird is followed by 

 notes on habits, &c., and the kind of food on which it chiefly 

 subsists. The coloured plates accompanying the article are re- 

 produced from Gould's " Birds of Australia." They are ex- 

 cellently printed by the three-colour process. 



* * * 



British Ornithologist in Australia. — In the March, 1910, 

 issue of The Avicultural Magazine, Mr. D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S., con- 

 tinues his pleasant " Notes on my Visit to Australia." He describes 

 a visit to Stanwell Park, New South Wales, in company with Mr. 

 S. Le Souef. The two bird-lovers had interesting experiences 

 among the Waxbills {Mgintha temporalis), Rock-Warblers (Origma 

 rubricata), and other species. Mr. Seth-Smith heard the notes of 

 the Butcher-Bird {Cracticus destructor), and he thought the song 

 the finest he had heard since his arrival in Australia. " The loud, 

 flute-like notes, answered in the distance by a rival bird, gave a 

 special charm to the whole countryside." 



