Correspondence.



307



educated—“ finished off,” I believe is the correct term—in Paris, and I spent

three of my holidays (two summers and one winter) in travelling about

Europe; the summer of 1889 I spent in Eastern Europe, going from Buda-

Pestli to the Black Sea in the company of one of my professors—an ardent

ornithologist—who was studying the avian life of Hungary and the Balkan

Provinces, especially that of the vast marshy tracts which lie on either side

of the River Danube and its tributary streams. Now I cannot remember

whether it was in the following year or the one after that that I was staying

at Sandwich in Kent and saw the young Water-Rails ; and it is for that

reason my observation cannot constitute a scientific record, as I hold that all

records must be exact both as to time and place. Anyhow, while fishing

one day during the early summer of 1890 or 1S91, in what are known as the

Ricliborough Ponds, so-called from their close proximity to the ruins of

Richborough Castle, the ancient Roman fortress of Rutupiae, I saw a

Water-Rail and her young ones pass by within six yards of where I was

sitting motionless on the bank ; they came from a patch of reeds on the

castle side of the pond and disappeared into the main body of reeds on the

opposite side. They were in full view for quite a minute, and I am

absolutely certain of their identity, because I saw so many in Eastern

Europe in that enormous marsh that stretches from Kalarash as far as

Ibraila, in Great Wallachia, a distance of about 150 miles. Although I saw

these birds, it did not strike me as being anything out of the way, and

even now I can hardly realize that it is not only uncommon, but the fact

that the Water-Rail has nested in Kent has not previously been recorded bv

some observers. Had this been known to meat the time my observations

would certainly have been recorded with fuller data than I am able to give

at this late period of time after the event. I trust that this imperfect

account of what may reasonably be considered an instance of the breeding

of the Water-Rail in Kent—for the young were only a few days old when

they were seen by me, and could not possibly have come in from another

county, as Sandwich lies on the extreme east of Kent—may prove of

interest to Dr. Ticehurst. PtCRCY W. Parnborough.


ANOTHER SUCCESS WITH PILEATED PARRAKEETS.


Under date July 2nd, Mr. W. R. Fasey writes : —


“ Sir, —I have a nest of four young Pileated Parrakeets about three

weeks old now. If they leave the nest I will wriLe again.”


And 011 July iSth : —


“ Following my last letter the young Pileated Parrakeets have left

their nest, and if some other member is not before me, I think I am entitled

to the medal.” Wir.UAM R. Fasky.


[Members who do not give a full account of the breeding are not

entitled to the medal, which on this occasion would appear to be due to

Mr. Astley, as his birds were apparently hatched before Mr. Fasey’s.— Ed.]



