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from the Island of Tobago, which lies N. E. of Trinidad and S. E. of

Grenada.


In May, 1S98, our member, Mr. J. C. Pool, of Birmingham, received

a consignment of Doves from Barbados and among them, I think, five

examples from Tobago, which were forwarded under the name of Columba

corensis; all the latter had had their wings more or less clipped and were

somewhat rough in feathering. Knowing my liking for Doves, Mr. Pool

kindly exchanged a pair of Zenaida aurita and the supposed Columba corensis

for various birds which I had to spare.


I soon discovered that neither of the species to which C. corensis is

assigned as a synonym answered in the least to my birds, and after looking

through the Museum collection of skins of Columba I was still at fault.


Looking through Temminck’s work, I believed I had spotted the bird

on pi. 25 bis as the supposed young of Zenaida aurita , and turning to the

Catalogue I found Count Salvadori’s note — ‘ seems to belong to a different

species’ ; so there I was floored again. From that day forward I was no

nearer to an identification ; for, although one of the birds proved to have

been pinioned and will never be able to fly, both remain in excellent

health ; so that I must eventually have caged one of them and taken it to

town for identification. Now, however, I have looked at the solitary

Museum skin (said to have come from Grenada) and know my birds to be

Leptoptild wellsi.


I find this one of the most timid Doves with which I have had to do;

and, unlike most species of Columbidce, somewhat irritable ; objecting to

small birds perching on a branch near it, and running to drive them away :

it is softly pleasing, but by no means brilliant, in colouring.


A. G. Butler.


THE RUFOUS-TAILED GRASSFINCH.


Sir, —I read with much interest and pleasure the article on this

pretty finch by Mr. Seth-Smith, which appeared in the February number of

the Magazine. The plate represents a fine male bird, and I think one I now

have in my aviary is about as handsome; but the red marking of the face

has been less vivid in several cock birds I have seen on this side of the

Channel.


My own experience with these lovely little birds has, unfortunately,

been limited to one pair, purchased in November, 1897. The hen was

rather delicate from the first, and died when about to lay, last spring. The

cock (referred to above) is still in good health and plumage, and wintered

in my unheated aviary, but where it never freezes, without any apparent ill

effects, this year. Since the loss of the hen, I have not been able to find

another of the species to mate with the cock, much to my regret, for he

seems most anxious to nest. At the present moment he is rather “ sweet ”

on a hen Australian Crimson-finch (who, by the way, has a brutal partner

wdiose chief occupation is chasing and trying to maltreat her—both the

Crimson-finches are aviary-bred), but she resents him and his attentions,

and seems to prefer her decidedly brutal mate to the gallant Ruficauda and

his affections. If she were only slightly inclined to accept his advances, I

think I would cage them alone and try the experiment of breeding hybrids,

and leave the cock Crimson-finch to himself.



