On Breeding Turnix lep nr ana in German Bird-rooms. 217


In the last number of this magazine the Rev. H. D. Astley

recorded the fact of his having secured a pair of these birds at

Genoa, from a ship bound for England. On, or about, the 19th

of March last this ship arrived in London, with a large consign¬

ment of Australian birds, amongst which were some Bourlce’s

Parrakeets and about a dozen specimens of the hitherto extremely

rare Munia fiaviprymna. So now this species can hardly be

called really rare any longer. Possibly ere long it will be as

common as Munia pectoralis , or even as Bathilda ruficauda.


I purchased a pair from this consignment, which I placed

in a very large cage with the original bird sent over last year. I

believe I have two cocks and one hen, but it is very difficult to

tell. There was very little difference in those I saw of the recent

arrivals, but only one of mine sings, and for a Munia he has

quite a respectable little song.


The call note is a pretty piping note, exactly like that

of its very near ally, the Chestnut-breasted Finch (. Mtmia

casta 71 eith or ax').


The bird-catcher who caught the original seven specimens

that went to Sydney last year, said that these birds “seem to be

kings amongst the Donacolas,” going about with the Chestnut-

finch, and numbering about one to every thousand of the latter

species.



ON BREEDING TURNIX LEPURANA IN

GERMAN BIRD-ROOMS.


By Arthur G. Butler, Ph.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c.


Respecting the successful breeding in captivity of the

Ferruginous-necked Hemipode (Lepurana Hemipode of the

Zoological Society’s list) Dr. Russ informs us, that several pairs

were imported by G. Bosz of Cologne in 1892; and, scarcely six

weeks later both Lieut. Hautli and Herr Behrens had succeeded

in breeding with them.


The former gentleman, to whom Dr. Russ is indebted for

his account of the life-history of this species, was again success¬

ful in subsequent years ; in 1895 he hatched out, from eggs laid



