156



Correspondence.



The sequence of plumages in this species I believe to be the following : —


1. Down plumage present in hatching.


2. Juvenile plumage acquired whilst in the nest, also called nestling plumage.


3. First winter plumage acquired by moult of body feathers at the first


autumnal moult. The bird is now in the brown dress.


4. First summer plumage (the same feathers as first winter) and allowing for


abrasion and fading resembles the winter plumage. In this dress the

bird was described by M. Gerbe as a new species and called by him

Ruticilla cairii ; many individuals nest in this plumage.


5. Second winter plumage acquired by a complete moult, and the males now


become really black on the breast for the first time, As there is a

considerable variation-of plumage in “black” winter males it is possible

that they may take another year or even more to attain perfect adult

plumage. Here is an opportunity for aviculturists to decide this point.


6. Second summer plumage resembles the second winter plumage, allowing for


abrasion and fading, there being no moult.


Claud B. Ticehurst.



Dr. MAURICE AMSLER writes word that his young male HOODED

SISKIN ( Spinus cucullatus ), which was hatched in his aviaries at Eton last

year, is now, at the age of five months, an almost exact replica of the adult

male, except that the black on the latter is still dark brown in the younger one,,

and the vermilion is replaced by a more orange colour.


The bird is singing well.


* * *


Everything in nature is abnormally early this year. Mr. Astley’s BLACK-

NECKED SWANS have begun laying, and a pair of the same species at Nuneham

Park (Mr. Lewis Harcourt’s) are incubating their eggs.


Mr. WESLEY T. Page (Editor of “ Bird Notes") is publishing a “ List of

Species and Hybrids which have reared young in captivity in Great Britain,”

which is to be systematically arranged according to Dr. Gadow’s Classification,

slightly revised. The book is to be interleaved, for the entry of future records.


AFRICAN SUNBIRDS, new to aviculture, have just been brought home by

Mr. P. Owen. There are four species : —


THE CAPE LONG-TAILED Sunbird {Promerops cafer). Total length

19'5 inches, of which the tail is 14 inches in the adult male.


The Amethyst Sunbird ( Cinnyris .amethystinus) a most beautiful

species. Emerald green crown. Rose-lilac gorget and upper tail coverts.

Body, deep violet black, Total length 5'3 inches.


A third species which has been brought safely to England is the lovely

South African WEDGE-TAILED SUNBIRD (. Anthrobaphes violacea). The total

length of adult male 6’5 inches, of which the tail occupies 3'3 inches. Head,

neck and uppermost portion of back and wing-coverts, deep metallic green ;

gorget, metallic green, shading into lilac and steel-blue; underparts, yellow,

strongly washed with orange red on the front of the chest and on the tail-coverts.

A lighter yellow pectoral tuft at the shoulders.


Mr. Owen is to be congratulated upon the importation and possession

of these beautiful Sunbirds. H. D. A.



