142



Correspondence.



guirahuro), a species inhabiting open country in Southern Brazil

and Paraguay, and nesting in reed-beds. We now have an

example of each of the two species of the genus Pseudoleistes ,—

P. guirahuro and P. virescens; both brownish green birds, the

former with the rump and underparts yellow, the latter with the

rump like the back and only the underparts yellow.


We have added to our stock of ducks eight pairs of the

charming Baikal Teal (NetHum forviosum ), a species that some

few years ago was quite rare in Europe, costing from five to ten

pounds a pair, but which has recently been imported in vast

numbers and sold at a remarkably low price. It is extremely

wild at first, but soon settles down, and next to the Mandarin

and Carolina, is one of the most showy of all the ornamental

waterfowl.


The pair of Kolbe’s Vultures went to nest soon after

Christmas, laying a single egg which they took turns to incubate.

They sat splendidly through the recent severe frost, but after the

full period of six weeks had elapsed they were both noticed oft

the nest one day, and an examination revealed nothing but a

few fragments of broken shell. D. S-S.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


AGE OF ROBINS.


Sir, — I wonder if any of your readers could tell me the age to which

a common Robin may be expected to live, assuming freedom from disease

and accident.


I have had (if one can be said to have even a possessory title to a bird

having absolute liberty) a tame cock Robin in my garden and house for 6|

years past, and he seems as well as ever. During this period he has regu¬

larly had two nests each spring and usually brought off four healthy young

from each nest.


I will not detail wearisome trivialities as to his absolute tameness, but

two points occur to me as possibly of general interest, (i) The one is that,

considering the numbers of his offspiing, the rate of mortality amongst

Robins must be great, or the district would soon be overstocked, assuming

other Robins are equeally successful in nesting operations ; ( 2 ) all sorts and

conditions of men are intensely interested in a common-place tame bird

such as a Robin, while rare birds, or birds with curious habits are often

passed unnoticed. C. JIarnby .Smith.



