258



Correspondence.



ings ” nearly as freely as do Owls and Hawks, but this fact is as

well known as the Cole Tits’ habit of “casting their bread upon

the waters” and forgetting all about it. I can only say that I derive

great pleasure from my garden friends and they are a never failing

delight to children of all classes. Errand boys, Sunday school classes

and workmen are always greatly impressed by the sight of uncaged

birds coming to hand, and in some cases have successfully tamed

birds for themselves.


Last year a Thrush nested in the enclosure where a boy keeps

his pigeons, finding her way in and out as they do, and she was

allowed to rear her young and depart in peace with them when they

were fledged. Another has a Robin which comes in at his window,

and not long ago a boy gleefully told me that a Tit is nesting in a

cocoa-nut which he had hung up. This, it seems to me, is a form

of nature study which should be encouraged by all aviculturists.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, &c.



DUCKS BREEDING AT DEREHAM.


Up to date (May 5th) I have some 300 Ducks’ eggs in process of incuba¬

tion, all laid here, composed of the following species :—Carolinas, Mandarin,

Ruddy Shellduck, Cinnamon Teal, Common Teal, Blue-winged Teal,

White-eyed Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Rosybill,

American Wigeon, Chilian Pintail, Common Pintail, Gadwall, Shoveler

Tufted Duck, Ruddy-headed Bernicle Geese. In addition to these I have

found four or five nests containing four to six eggs, which I shall not be

able to identify until I catch the owners on the eggs. It has been a very

early season here, Rosybills and Ruddy Shellduck (usually late layers) “went

down ” on full clutches a fortnight ago ! Chilian, Ringed Teal, and various,

other species appear on the point of laying. H. WORMALD.


Mr. A. Ezra has received from India, amongst other birds, some of the

handsome Red-headed Bullfinches (Pyrrhula erythrocephala). In style and size

resembling the European bird, the male has the head and breast a bright orange


red, with small black mask round the bill.


* * *


Through the kindness of Mr. David Ezra, Mr. Astley has lately received a

lot of Cotton Teal (Nettopus coromandelianns). For 30 years Mr. William

Jamrach tried without success to import these pretty little water fowl, so that it

became a fixed idea that they could not be kept in captivity. Mr. Astley has

one in perfect health that landed in England on the 25th of January, 1914.


Mr. A. Ezra has presented a pair, out of the consignment sent over by his.

brother, to the London Zoological Gardens.



