Correspondence.



173



as far south as this to escape the rigours of their northern homes in winter.

The Olivaceous Warbler (Hypolais pallida) nests in large numbers in the

Gardens, and its sweet song is constantly heard throughout the summer.

The Graceful Warbler [Dryrnceca gracilis) is an abundant resident, and its

persistent note is one of the most familiar sounds in the Gardens.


The Goldfinch also nests there regularly, as does the House Sparrow,

Hooded Crow, Barn Owl, Southern Little Owl and Palm Dove, while the

Moorhen and Stone Plover have also reared young there in a wild state.


An extraordinary increase has taken place in the numbers of Night

Herons and Shoveller ducks which frequent these Gardens in autumn and

winter. I11 the case of the former birds 108 individuals were counted on

January 15th, 1901, 360011 December nth, 1902, and now it is impossible to

count them. Up to 1902 twenty was the largest number of Shovellers seen

on the lake. Now it is estimated that over 500 take up their quarters there.


Of the introduced or escaped foreign species the following list is

given: Amaduvade Waxbill visited the Gardens in August and September

1905 to 1908—and breeds there; Java Sparrow recorded 011 four occasions-

Spice Finch twice recorded; Striated Finch three times; Indian Silver-bill

two seen ; Common Waxbill twice seen ; Cordon Bleu twice; Madagascar

Weaver three times; Grey Headed Lovebird six times observed; Rose-

ringed Parrakeet probably breeds in the Gardens ; there are at least fourteen

birds, but six are known to have escaped and three have been liberated. A

larger Green Parrakeet, probably the Indian Ring-neck, has been observed

in 1902 and 190S.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.



A BLUE ROCK THRUSH FROM CUBA.


Sir, —Along with a fine specimen of Mimocichla rubripes, the red-

legged Cuban Thrush, there was sent me, on approval, a Blue Rock Thrush,

whose identity I have not been able to discover.


It is said to be also a Cuban bird. Anyone who knows the European

Blue Rock Thrush, [or ‘Chat,’ to be nearer the mark,] can easily picture it.

A bird of exactly the same size, and, speaking generally, of a similar

colouring. The differences are these: the bill is longer and more Starling¬

like, the feathers 011 the throat and upper breast being, as in the Starling,

narrower and more pointed than in the European Blue Thrush. The pale

powdery blue upon the head which distinguishes that bird, extends in the

case of his Cuban cousin to the throat and breast, whilst a broad black line,

shewing up quite distinctly against the surrounding silvered-blue, runs

from the beak through the eyes, and these are very distinctive, being of a

bright but rather deep orange-red.


I did not keep the bird because my cage-birds already numbered more



