174



Correspondence.



than I could comfortably do with, but I could see that, like his European

relative, he would have become very tame, and when in really good feather¬

ing, would be decidedly handsome.


Now will someone let us know his exact name? In the index of the

Ibis I can find no Petrocincla, (which this bird undoubtedly is), mentioned as

being found in the part of the world from which he came.


Hubert D. Asteey.



OUAIL FINCHES NESTING.


Sir, —My pair of Quail Finches have made a nest, and incubation

has been going on for five days. Can you tell me how many days incubation

lasts? What would von give as food if the young ones are hatched. It is

very interesting to watch these sweet little birds—the labours of nestmaking

and incubating seem in this case to be reversed, the female brings the

materials, feathers and grass, the male makes the nest, and up to this time

it is the male alone that sits on the nest, but he has a way of leaving the

nest for an hour or two at a time while he preens his feathers and has his

meals; this makes me rather anxious about the hatching of the eggs.


The birds first made a nest between two pieces of turf which had been

placed in the cage. This spelt disaster, as the top piece of turf dried up and



lumps of earth fell upon the nest and broke the eggs. Then all the turf

except the bottom layer was removed and dry grass placed in the cage; the

birds soon built another nest just like a Wood Wren’s, with a little opening

just like the entrance of a Wren’s nest. You can just see the white marks

on the bird’s cheeks and his red bill, l'he eggs now being incubated aie

four in number, and are pure white, rather long. Wii.EI am Ingram.


l'he following reply was sent to Sir William Ingram .


The period of incubation would probably be from twelve to fourteen

days. It will be very difficult to provide living insects at this time of year



