4 6



Correspondence , Notes, etc.



remarkable, owing to the constant stream of passengers going on and off,

and which continued until pretty late at night.


I also notice in the May number the letter of Mr. J. Viner Leeder,

making enquiries as to the hardiness of the Black Swan. Being natives of

Australia, and also of Tasmania, they may be considered very hardy. In

this State they appear to be getting more plentiful than they were, owing

possibly to efforts being made to preserve the young from wholesale

destruction. I have seen adult birds go about with the same freedom and

with no more attention than one would give to Geese. This year I have

had the chance of buying no less than three pairs at the initial cost of

per pair. It is the expense of transit that makes all birds so valuable when

lauded in England.


Tasmania. Mary G. Roberts.



GOLDEN-BREASTED WAXBILLS BREEDING.


Sir,—I saw a minute creature emerge from a rush-basket nest to-day,

probably for the first time, and found it was a Golden-breasted Waxbill.

The basket is in the open, and it seems late for such a tiny thing to be out

of doors, bnt perhaps it may live.


Sept. 15 tli. L. Wieeiams.



NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.—HYBRIDS BETWEEN THE

LYRE-BIRD AND COMMON FOWL.


The following is an extract from a letter received from Mr. A. W.

Milligan, a well-known Australian ornithologist and field-naturalist:


“ I have been very much interested in the notes on Australian birds

that have appeared in your Magazine, particularly those relating to the

Maluri and Pachycephala gutturalis. Whilst living in Victoria I kept

many of the native birds in captivity. I was never able to rear Menura

superba, although I made many attempts to do so. I had however

hybrids between the Lyre-bird and the common fowl, and exhibited

them at the Victoria Poultry Show many years ago.”


Although the Lyre-birds were at one time thought to be related to

the Pheasants they are now known to be quite distinct from the galli¬

naceous birds, and the production of such a hybrid is most extraordinary.

We hope to hear more on the subject. Ed.



ZEBRA-FINCH FEEDING YOUNG GOLDEN-BREASTED

WAXBILLS.


Sir,—I s it a matter of frequent occurrence that a bird of one species

should feed and look after the young of an entirely different kind of bird ?

I have now among my birds an instance of this.



