Coirespojidence.



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nests (.Icterus xanthornus) and two Severe Macaws (Am severa ),

as well as a good many less important birds.


Two adult Lammergeiers or Bearded Vultures have been

acquired by purchase, and make a fine addition to our series of

raptorial birds, as it is some years since the Society has possessed

an adult specimen of this fine species.


Besides the young Swans we have three young Chestnut¬

breasted Teal, one of the rarer of the smaller Waterfowl, and

three young Peocock Pheasants. D. S-S.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.



NOTES ON A HERRING GULL.


.Sir, —When passing the Gull’s aviary at the Zoological Gardens the

other day I observed a Herring Gull behave in a manner which I think

must be most unusual.


It arose from the ground whilst in a sitting position, and when it

alighted dropped upon its breast. This was repeated twice, and although I

examined the bird very closely during flight, I could see no trace of legs;

in fact, I came to the conclusion that it was a trapped specimen and had

suffered amputation.


I was feeling very sorry for the bird and was wondering how it

managed to exist amongst its bullying brethren when it suddenly got up

and ran azvay. Had it been the first of April I could have understood

matters better than I do now. W. S. BKRRIDGE, F.Z.S.



THE BREEDING OF KNOTS.


Sir, — I have often wondered why the Knot ( Tringa canutus) never

breeds in captivity, and I should be interested to learn if any members of

the Society who have kept these birds have ever noticed any signs of

nesting.


Even allowing for the fact that in the extreme north where these

birds naturally nest, the conditions are very different, yet one would have

thought that birds that do so well in confinement (personally I have found

them almost “impossible to kill”) and yearly put on a sort of breeding

plumage, would, in exceptional cases at any rate, have nested.


I wonder if any member of the Society has ever seriously tried to get

them to nest by putting a few birds in a suitable place, apart from birds of

other species, and if so, with what result ?



