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Correspondence.



young nestlings, he is ably assisted by a relative of his, who is most successful in

this difficult branch.


The doctor has mostly native (that is indigenous birds), but some African

and other tropical “ Insectivorous ” as well, all in splendid condition. As far as

my memory serves me. I have noted down the Portuguese birds that most

attracted me.


A handsome “ Papa-Figos ” (Oriolus Galbula of Linnceus), two

Nightjars, various Shrikes, a Melodious Warbler, a Rufous Warbler,

Nightingales, Blackcaps, Hoopoes, Jays, a Crested Wren, Crested Larks, a

Russet Chat, Robins, an Owl, and a “ Great Bustard,” Blackbirds, a Crow, also

a bird about the size of a Blackbird, with brownish mottled plumage and quite a

wig of long black feathers on his head, very tame.


The doctor told me this kind is quite common here even among the hills

round Lisbon, but did not know its name. These are all of the native birds I can

remember.


Further, there was a beautiful 11 Metallic ” Blackbird from America,

“ shot ” as it were with blue and green tints, shining through its black plumage:

very striking. Also a number of little gay African mites, whose names I cannot

enumerate.


Among the 11 Insectivorae ” there were a few “ graminivorous ” kinds,

such as a pair of Bleeding-heart Pigeons, a pair of Zebra Doves, some

Goldfinches and Canaries, etc. My bird-dealer’s wife tells me that this

gentleman is almost the only real amateur among their list of customers. Many

keep a few cage-birds as pets, but are not in any sense Aviculturists,” and

the majority purchase chiefly poultry, pigeons, etc., for purely utilitarian

purposes. CHARLOTTE E. IVENS.


P.S.—The “Cuchicho,” i.e., “ Galandra Lark,” is very common here

(Portugal), but I did not see it represented in the above collection.—C.E.I.


NOTES FROM WORCESTERSHIRE, NEAR CLEOBURY MORTIMER.


THE NIGHTJAR.


SIR, —The following story with reference to the power of ventriloquism

possessed by this bird may be of interest to your readers. For some days in

June I had heard a curious bleating sound, and thinking it was caused by some

very young calves, as no lambs were near my house, I asked the shepherd if it

was so. He replied that the peculiar sound came from a queer bird in the sky and

that I was not the first person to ask him this question, as only the previous year

a man had stopped at his cottage to tell him that there was a lost lamb bleating

in the meadows and he told him that it was none of his and there were none

around. Upon which the man determined to find out for himself from whence

the bleating came. In vain he searched the field, a rough marshy meadow,

hearing the sound continually near, and then far off, until at last he saw a bird

rise from the ground, and only then was he convinced there was no lost lamb.



