ss



English ones, bnt be that as it may, it was a delightful twenty minutes, and

I was sorry'when the time came for en voiture, for after travelling all night it

was quite refreshing to be welcomed, on stepping out of the train, with

such a concert; the country being otherwise so still added effect to the

situation.


Talking of hedge-sparrows, I have frequently heard them sing in my

garden at night when disturbed by a passing footstep.


It may interest some of your readers to hear what migratory birds I

observed during my ten days stay in France (April ioth to 19th, when many

of them would not have reached this country).


Swallows were plentiful, and had been seen several days previously,

but I saw no house-martins, sand-martins, or swifts.


Cuckoos, nightingales, blackcaps and redstarts, were also very plenti¬

ful, and I noticed hoopoes, whiuchats, stonechats, shrikes, whitethroats,

willow-wrens, chiffcliafFs, nuthatches, corn-,cirl-, and blacklieaded-buntings.


Landrails are as rare as nightingales in the suburbs of Birmingham,

and when one was heard a few years ago near a village where I stayed, the

■whole population went out to listen to it.


I found very few nests, except magpies’, and these were as common as

sparrows’ here. I counted twenty-one magpies feeding in one field, and

nests are to be found in about one out of every ten trees in many parts of

the country.


-- J. C. Pool.



BREEDING FOREIGN BIRDS.


Sir, — I want to compile a tabular statement of the various species of

foreign birds which have bred in this country, and I shall be much indebted

to all who will help me in the matter. I shall be glad to hear from those

who have either bred the birds themselves, or who can speak to the facts

from their own positive knowledge. I want in each case to know (1) the

species (2) the name of the breeder (3) the place where bred (4) the date

when bred (5) whether bred indoors or outdoors, and if the former whether

in cage or aviary (6) whether the young were reared, and if they died while

still in their nest feathers, what age they attained (7) any additional

information (such as food, etc.) which can be given. I do not want to

hear about either Zebra Finches, Bengalese, Ribbon-finches, Java Sparrows,

Saffron-finches, Budgerigars, Cockatiels, or Rosellas; nor do I wish to hear

of cases where no young were hatched.


Horatio R. Fillmer.



alterations IN RULES AND ADDITIONAL RULES.


The following alterations in the rules and additional rules have been

passed by the Council:—


Throughout, alter the word “ Committee ” to “ Council,” and the

word “Sub-Committee” to “Committee.”


10. — All members intending to resign their membership at the end of

the current year of the Society, shall give notice of their intention to the

Secretary before the 14th of October, and all members who do not so give

notice shall continue to be members for the year following the last year for

which they shall have paid their subscriptions, and shall be liable for their

subscriptions accordingly.


11. — Neither the office of Scrutineer, nor the office of Auditor, shall

be held for two consecutive years by the same person.


12. -—The Scrutineer shall not reveal to any person how an} - member

shall have voted.



