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two chicks appeared at the entrance and cast themselves forth, 
fluttering down to the ground at an angle of about 45 degrees, 
the other chicks quickly followed in succession, the female 
then led the brood off. This took place about 9 a.m. The 
chicks were apparently able, by use of claws and wings, to 
scramble up the steep sides of the nest-box some 30 cm. 
high. Goldeneyes frequently settle on the top of the nest- 
boxes, and even on the boughs of the spruce. 
Dr. C. B. TiczHurst also called attention to the recent 
statements made (in Parliament and in the Press) regarding 
Egret farms in India in connection with the Plumage Bill, 
and made the following observations:—I have seen it 
stated that no serious naturalist believes in the existence 
of these farms, and if birds are kept at all in captivity 
it is done as a cloak to show European officials. These 
statements are entirely erroneous. Hveryone who takes 
any interest in these matters, as well as ordinary sports- 
men, are in Sind, perfectly well acquainted with the 
existence of these Egret farms, and there is no shadow of 
doubt about their existence. When I was stationed at 
Karachi I made a good many enquiries concerning them, 
and gathered a good bit of information concerning them. 
Since nearly all are situated in the exactly opposite 
corner of Sind to Karachi, and in very inaccessible places, 
T did not personally have the pleasure of inspecting them 
myself. But my friend Mr. Gordon, Canal Engineer at 
Jacobabad and later at Mirpurkhas, has visited one or more 
farms on several occasions, and at my request did so again, 
to get answers to my queries on the subject on the spot. 
Full details of the Egret Farms in Sind will be given in my 
forthcoming paper on the Birds of Sind, but I will give 
now just a short résumé of it. The birds kept are said to 
have come originally from Bahawalpur district at the com- 
mencement of the industry 15-16 years ago. They are 
kept in reed-sereen huts with full use of wings and eyes ; 
in the huts native beds (charpoys) are put, on which the 
birds breed in colonies, sticks being put into the aviary for 
