194



HYBRIDS.


Mr. Frank F. Lambert, of Beverley, lias this summer bred three

hybrids between the Spice Bird or Nutmeg Finch and the Bengalese.


Horatio R. Fieemer.



TORTOISES.


Sir,— Since we have opened our columns to the reptilian allies of

our feathered friends, I thought I might as well send the following extract,

by way of showing that the lady Mr. Phillipps tells us of, in the July

number, was not so far out after all (d). I may also mention that in 1S92 I

brought an African Water-Tortoise ( Pelomedusa gabata) home without food,

from Mombasa to London.


From the Proceedings , Asiatic Society of Bengal, for fune, iSqq.


“ Mr. F. Finn exhibited a living Soft-shelled Tortoise (Emyda sp. ?)

and read the following remarks by W. K. Dods, Esq.


“ ‘ I got the Turtle (exhibited) on the evening of the 1st April when

out after Eld’s Deer, on one of the grassy plains near the mouth of the

Sittang River. Though dry and burnt up at the time of my visit, this

ground is a swamp at least seven mouths in the year, after which, when the

water, even in the Buffalo-wallows, begins to disappear, the Turtles and

Water-snakes bury themselves in the mud, and lie off till the first Monsoon

rains soften the soil and release them for another season. This particular

individual was under about two inches of soil, so dry and heated by the sun

as to be most disagreeable to walk on even with the protection to one’s feet

afforded by a heavy pair of shooting boots. Originally the ground had

been covered by a thick growth of grass, but that had all been burnt off

about a month before by a jungle fire, exposing the cracked soil to the full

rays of the sun, and the small round breatliing-hole to the sharp eyes of

my Burman guide. It was quite lively when dug out, and has never to my

knowledge eaten anything since. It seems equally indifferent whether its

residence is in a bag, a basket, an empty cartridge box, or a pail of water. I

saw the shells of several others lying about, but whether they met then-

end by jungle fires or other causes I could not find out.’


“ Mr. Finn also exhibited a head of the Clucking Teal ( Nettium

formosum ) from a specimen shot in India recently, and made remarks upon

it.” F. Finn.



(d) If we are to admit reptiles (and they are certainly deserving- of notice) would

it not be well to try and amalgamate our Magazine with th & Zoologist ? in which I see an

avicultural corner has very properly been started at Dr. Butler’s suggestion.—F. F.


I am quite sure that our member Mr. R. Phillipps never intended to introduce Reptiles

into the Magazine when he wrote his short paragraph on his friend’s Tortoise. I am also

quite sure that there would not be room in the Zoologist for the Avicultural Magazine .—

A. G. B.


The insertion of Mr. Phillipps’ and Mr. Finn’s communications must not be taken

as an indication of an intention to throw the Magazine open to zoological subjects other

than ornithological—though personally I am strongly in favour of such a course. Such a

change of policy would require the approval of the Council. It would not, I think, be

wise to go beyond the vertebrates.—H. R. F.



