88



Correspondence.



the nape ” of some hen Rosella Parrakeets, that I have seen this on many

individuals, all of which ultimately proved to be hens ; on the other hand, while

I have never come across a cock with the green spot on the nape, I have also

seen many 'proved hens which did not possess it, hence I always refer to it as not

constant.


With all that Dr. Butler has done, by collation and research, which none

recognise more than the writer, much yet remains to be done, and, the data yet

to be gathered, to be of real value, must come from living birds and from many

individual pairs of the same species; thus it is obvious that it must be the work

of many (all) aviculturists, the result to be ultimately collated in concrete form

by some enthusiastic and industrious author of the future.


In conclusion may I be permitted to urge all aviculturists (the topic covers

all orders of birds) to have a part therein, and to carefully observe and record

any distinctions in contour of any true pairs which pass through their hands,

whose plumages are similar. It would be of great interest, if observations were

taken as to what extent these contour distinctions are common with such species

in which the plumage of the sexes is dissimilar (Psittaci especially).


— Wesley T. Page.


NOTES.


HUMMING BIRDS. Herr August Fockelmann received in the beginning

of November three Humming Birds, which only lived, alas ! a few days, and he

sent me the bodies to inspect.


Sporadinus ricordi —the size of a small Sunbird — deep emerald green,

with forked tail, and a little patch of white on the under tail-coverts.


Calypte helence — literally scarcely larger than a Humming-bird Hawk

Moth. Dark emerald green with white throat and underparts. Its tiny feet would

find the stalk of a millet-spray almost too large.' Bill half an inch. Tail half an

inch. Head and body three quarters of an inch. One could hardly believe it

to be a bird, and how this minute creature lasted out through severe ocean

storms from Mexico (?) to Germany, puzzles one.


Herr Fockelmann still has hopes, when storms do not rage and when the

sun shines more warmly, of successfully importing some of these wonderful

little birds. H. D. A.



A LATE SWALLOW.


Mr. 0. MlLLSUM watched a Swallow, near Broadstairs, flying about

on the 23rd of November.



A RARE CONURE.


Mr. WALTER ROTHSCHILD and Mr. ASTLEY have acquired some very

rare Conures from an uninhabited island (Mona Islands), which are said to be-

C. gundlaclii (?) They are in immature plumage, all green with a few scarlet

feathers showing here and there on head, breast and back; under the wings the-

colour is bright scarlet. They were sold by Mr. A. E. Jamrach.



