the manner and to the extent stated by Mr. Farrar, it is not a typical adult

specimen of P. elegant, and Mr. Farrar has not proved that such differences

are true sexual characteristics.


P. adelaidce agrees remarkably in many respects with Mr. Farrar’s

description of the female. It differs from P. elegant in having the crimson

replaced by orange-red; the violet on the chin is much paler ; the feathers

on the back have traces of a colour which Mr. Farrar describes as that of

the strand Magazine ; the tail has a more decided greenish tint; the legs are

greyer. It therefore seems to me very probable that Dr. Butler’s solution

of the difficulty may be the true one—but I do not pledge myself to that or

any other theory.


It is somewhat curious that in Mr. Farrar’s article on “The Sex of

Pennants ” he describes the centre tail feathers of the cock as “black”

(vol. iv. p. 108), while in his article on “The Nesting of the Pennant” he

calls them “ rich violet ” (page 176 of this vol.), and Mr. Grace and Mr.

Oates, in their letters printed above, describe the colour as “ blue.”


Horatio R. Fiermer.



NOTES AND QUERIES.


Sir, —I hope you will excuse the casual nature of the present “Notes

and Queries,” suggested by recent communications to our Magazine.


Shatnas, etc. I was much interested in Miss Alderson’s account of her

birds ; her experience of this species tallies remarkably with mine in at

least two points. A male bird I kept some time by himself used to bask on

the floor with outspread wings, in just the way she describes, and like no

other bird I know. Also, when first put in a cage together with a hen, he

attacked and persecuted her furiously. Afterwards, when both were placed

in a much larger cage together, she turned the tables on him, and led him

such a life that I had to remove her altogether. I infer from this that, with

Shamas, a long and formal introduction is necessary if a pair are to agree,

and I think Miss Alderson is doing very right in keeping hers apart. The

Shama, like other members of the Thrush family, seems naturally un¬

sociable even with the other sex of its own species, but even sociable

species may at times refuse to chum up at first. Some time ago, when

joint Secretary to the Zoo here, I introduced a hen Liothrix into a cage

where a bachelor male had long remained. He immediately made violent

love to her, showing off with his wings slightly- expanded and inclined

sideway-s, like some Pheasants, and breast rather puffed out—but she would

have nothing to do with him, either then or a long time after, though they

are as friendly as possible now, like their charming species as a rule. Does

Liothrix , by the way, always show off in this way ? This is the only

occasion on which I have ever seen it done, and I have kept several of both

sexes myself. Also, does the Hedge-Sparrow (Accentor modularis) which is

sometimes considered very nearly akin to Liothrix, ever cuddle up to and

caress its companions, and employ its foot for holding its food ? These

habits are most characteristic of Liothrix, and of the Babbler family-,

to which it undoubtedly belongs, generally.


Food for Waterfowl. Miss Alderson should take care that her pond

contains plenty- of water-snails, small enough for her birds to swallow. I

have observed many species of Ducks, and find that these molluscs are

a favourite food with them, especially with the diving kinds; two Flam-



