Stray Notes.



29



Gull Ponds, which is to be devoted chiefly to Gulls and Herons;

and another aviary, in which it is proposed to keep some of the

rarer British birds, Waders of many kinds, and Grebes, has just

been commenced to the north of the Lion House. This should

prove a most interesting aviary as it will be arranged so as to

imitate the natural surroundings of Waders and such like as

nearly as possible.


The Great, and one of the Lesser Birds of Paradise, have

shed their plumes, but the second Lesser bird is still (April

19th) perfect, and has recently been displaying in a wonderful

manner, every morning when the sun shines between 7.30 a.111.

and 9 a.111.



STRAY NOTES.



It is very desirable that as many of our members as possibly can will

join the International Ornithological Congress, which, as has been

previously announced, is to be held in London in June next, so that the

avicultural section may be well represented. It is the duty of aviculturists

to show the great importance of scientific aviculture, as a branch of

ornithology.


Mr. St. Ouintin writes on April 1st from the South of France : “This

seems to be a very late season for migrating birds, as compared with 1903

and 1904. We have only seen one Swallow (H. rnstica) and that on March

20th. Spotted Crakes have been plentifully killed by chasseurs in the

neighbouring marshes, and we have seen a few Hoopoes; but there has

been nothing like a ‘ rush ’ yet.”


Mr. J. G. Millais writes to the Field of April 8th : “I have always

been sceptical about “March Cuckoos,” but have just been converted. O11

April 1st I heard a Cuckoo calling for some time in an oak tree in front of

Warnliam Court, Horsham, and both heard and saw another (or possibly the

same) on April 2nd. Now this bird the Warnliam gardeners assured me

had been calling all day on March 31st, and I see no reason to doubt their

statement. They all heard it, and remarked upon the unusually early

arrival of the bird.”



Dr. vSclater kindly sends us a copy of the Bulletin of the French

Acclimatization Society, for March, 1905, iu which appears an interesting

paper by Mile. L. Reyen, on the rearing of Swallows, and other insectivorous

birds. This lady has been most successful iu rearing Swallows from the



