158



Correspondence.



any of your readers who may be in a position to give information on the

subject. All the observations will be collated and studied by Dr. Ticehurst

who will draw up a full report at a later date.


I am, Sir, your obedient servant,


H. F. WlTHEUBY.



THE RECENT CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW.


I was unable to attend the recent Show, but Mr. Goodcliild writes

that the rarest exhibit was, probably, Mr. Astlev’s Parrot which was in

beautiful condition and very tame.


Two male King Birds of Paradise were exhibited, but neither was

in show condition, the ‘ wires’ being broken off entirely in one and damaged

in the other. Mr. Maxwell exhibited his Sun-bird, the same one that was

at the Horticultural Hall; but on the second da}' it was unwell and had to

be removed. No less than four Great Grey Shrikes were shown; one of

them being a charmingly tame specimen : it received six special prizes.


A. G. B.



THE HEDGE-ACCENTOR.


Mr. W. E. Tescliemaker writes that he does not regard the case men¬

tioned by Mr. Williams in “Canary and Cage-Bird Life ” as a fair one, the

parent birds not having paired, built, or even laid in captivity. He how¬

ever heard of a case in which this species was believed to have been bred,

but upon enquiry found that the report was erroneous.



BREEDING BRITISH BIRDS.


Mr. William B. Gibbins writes:—“I was much interested in the

letters in your January number of the Avicultural Magazine about breeding

British Birds. I think they are quite as interesting as foreign birds. At the

late Crystal Palace Show I was glad to see several specimens of British

hybrids which till then I should have thought impossible. I had a pair of

Cornish Choughs for several years. The hen laid eggs several times, but

never hatched the eggs, though they were fertile : I have since lost the

male bird, and find it almost impossible to get another without paying an

exorbitant price.”


There is no doubt that, in themselves, British birds are quite as in¬

teresting as foreigners, and in those cases in which the early life is im¬

perfectly known, they are just as interesting to breed ; but the chief object

of breeding birds should be to learn something which was not previously

known respecting the life-history ; and when one compares British and

foreign species the early life of the former has been pretty thoroughly

studied, whereas our knowledge of the early life of the latter is still com



