334



“ The Birds of Africa .”



more which died. I afterwards discovered the nesting-log was

faulty in construction, the entrance - hole being on the same

level as the floor of the nest, and consequently when the young

ones began to run about a little, they could run out or perhaps

try to follow their parents ; but by careful watching I have been

able to rear three young ones, now able to care for themselves.


Most of our members probably know that a Pennant is a

showy bird : nearly all rich crimson, with blue on wings and

tail, and does not attain this colour until the second year, the

young being nearly all green until then. The Yellow-naped is a

rich dark green bird, with a black head and light j^ellow collar.

The hybrids have a black head, green wings, and yellow collar

as the Yellow-naped ; nearly everywhere else crimson, with blue

flights as the adult Pennant.


Now what I would like to know is—will they moult to a

different colour as the young Pennants do, and if so what will

that colour be ? as they already have a prepouderence of the

colours of the adult Pennant; or are they in adult plumage now?

They are exceedingly pretty and evenly marked now, and I shall

be quite satisfied if they stick to their colours.


I shall be pleased to show them to any of our members

interested.



“THE BIRDS OF AFRICA.”


At page 205 of this volume we reviewed Capt. Shelley’s

splendid work, so far as it had then been published. Recently

the second part of Vol. IV. has appeared, dealing with the Sub¬

family Ploceince, or more typical Weaver - birds, the nests of

which resemble retorts or inverted snail-shells, known to the

aviculturist chiefly in connection with the genus Hyphantornis.


It is greatly to be regretted that the most splendid of the

African Ploceince , such as the species of Malimbus and Plocei-

passer, are not familiar objects in our aviaries.


The text of this part (it is actually a volume) is quite

equal to those which preceded it; and, excepting that it takes no

account of the records of our Society, leaves nothing to be

desired: the seven coloured plates, illustrating fourteen species,

are some of the best that Grouvold has produced.



