7 6



Correspondence.



-one another, and at the same time uttering a low running note.

They are also very clever at mimicking other birds.”


Mr. Le Souef is a skilful photographer, and his photos.,

with a few by Mr. Mattingley and others, are liberally dispersed

throughout the pages of this book.



GILBERT WHITE, OF SELBORNE.



The Hastings and St. Leonards’ Natural History Society

numbers amongst its members some of our best ornithologists,

who from time to time deliver lectures to the members on various

branches of their favourite science. One of the most important

of these was delivered on June 4th last, by Mr. W. H. Mullins,

M.A., under the title that heads this notice, and is now published

by Messrs. Witherby, at the moderate price of 2/6. An interest¬

ing account of the life and work of the famous naturalist is given

and is well deserving of perusal by those who follow in his

footsteps. It is illustrated by several excellent photographic

plates.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.



HYBRID NEOCHMIA PHAETON x BATHILDA RUFICAUDA.


Sir,—I t may be of interest to record the fact that in my aviary in

Italy, on the bake of Como, a male Australian Crimson Finch, Neoclimia

phaeton, has taken to himself a female Star Finch, Bathilda ruficanda, to

wife. Unfortunately the two young ones, which were the result of the

match, were found dead whilst still in a featherless condition, thrown out

of the nest.


I still hope that some young may be reared in the future, for such a

hybrid would undoubtedly be most interesting. The parent birds are

building again, but it is rather late in the year, and I shall not encourage

them. Hubert D. Asteev.



THE TRUMPETER BIRD.


Sir,—I n the very interesting article on the Trumpeter Bird, by Mrs.

Gregory, in the November issue of the Avicultural Magazine, she gives

“ Agami ” as the native name of this bird.



