368



Dr. A. G. Butler,



Rock-Sparrow in the Collection was laid in captivity and is, no

doubt, abnormally coloured.'’


I strongly suspect that the above conclusion was come to in

consequence of Shelley’s statement that eggs found in a Weaver-

bird’s nest by Heuglin were white. Both P. dentata and P. albigu-

laris laid many eggs in their cage but broke all but two ; all the eggs

were alike and characteristic of Sparrows : on the other hand white

eggs are not rare among the Ploceidoe, and I have no doubt whatever

that the eggs found by Heuglin were either laid by the builder of

the nest, or by some other Ploceid finch which had taken possession

of it. I have preserved a good many of the eggs produced in my

cages and aviaries and they are quite typical of the species which

laid them.


Chinese Bulbul. I thought I was going to lose this old

friend last winter: he became careless of his appearance, bedraggled,

dirty and with many broken feathers ; he suffered from diarrhoea,

was too weak to fly more than about two feet and was altogether

disreputable and miserable; then suddenly one morning, like the

•Jackdaw of Rheims when the curse was removed, he became sprightly

again, had a good wash, grew a fresh crop of feathers and is now as

w T ell as ever after more than fourteen years in my possession.


ARCHBISHOP Tanager : given to me by our Editor and still

perfect in health and plumage after nine and three quaiter years in

its flight cage.


SCARLET Tanagers : my two males, which always fight as

each breeding-season comes round, are still in excellent condition

after over sixteen years in their flight.


CHINGOLO SONG-SPARROW. The bird mentioned in my last

paper as presented to me by Mr. Teschemaker is quite well and lively

after five years in its aviary. Last year it paired up with a Tree-

Sparrow, hut no nest was built and I found no trace of eggs.


Tropical Seed-finch. This bird, which was presented to

me in November, 1907, died on the 14th February, 1912.


Fire-RED Finch. Presented at the same time as the pre¬

ceding bird, but still in excellent health after over five and a half



years.



