Correspondence , Notes , etc.



237



It is a beautiful clear orange-yellow.


And why should black and red produce such a tint ?


I believe it to be as distinct, after its kind, as are the “ Gouldiae” and

“Mirabilis.” Hubert D. Asttey.


[The Yellow-headed phase of the Gouldian Finch, named by Dr.

Ramsey Poephila armitiana, can hardly be regarded as more than a rare

variety of P. mirabilis. Single examples appear to occur at extremely rare

intervals amongst the normally coloured birds, but it has never, we believe,

been discovered in any numbers.—E d.]



SEX OF BIRDS, &c.


Sir,—I have a cock Liotlirix and hen Blue Robin in the same aviary.

Would they be at all likely to breed together ?


I L fmd it very difficult to sex Diamond Sparrows. Do the hens ever

hold their heads down and sing in the same ridiculous way the cocks do ?

Also I find it difficult to sex the Lavender Finches and Green Avadavats.


My Blue Thrush is singing well, but I have a Nightingale that will

not utter a note, and it is properly treated. My St. Helena Seed-eater hen,

that last year made a nice nest in a cigar box, now tries to build in a food

trough or anywhere. My Virginian Cardinal is sitting.


April 18 th, 1905. M. C. Hawke.


The following reply has been sent to the Hon. Mary C. Haivke:


It is not in the least likely that Sialia and Liotlirix would interbreed ;

our Robin and Hedge-Sparrow would stand a better chance, because more

alike in size, but it is not in the slighted degree probable that even these

would take pleasure in one another’s society.


The hen Diamond-Sparrow has a pale pink narrow band across the

base of the beak next to the forehead, the cock has the beak entirely deep

crimson : the hens do not sing. Lavender Finches are more difficult to

sex, but, as a rule, the male has the abdomen and the thighs blacker than

the hen. The cock Green Avadavat is a brighter bird than the hen ; the

latter is greyer above and whiter below, lateral^’ barred with smoky olive

on a white ground instead of black and white.


If the Nightingale is a hand-reared cock, it may never sing, and is

not likely ever to sing well; but are you sure that it is a cock bird ?


A. G. Butter.



THE SONG OF THE PIPING CROW.


In some notes on the birds observed in the South of Tasmania, which

appears in the current number of the Zoologist, Mr. J B. McClymont

writes :


November 25th. “ The morning carol of the Magpies is heard about


one hour before sunrise. I have noted a few of the hours at which I have



