Correspondence



125



BREEDING THE YELLOW-BILLED CARDINAL

Sirs, — I have just succeeded in breeding the Yellow-billed Cardinal.

So far as I am aware this is the only occasion upon which this species

has been bred in captivity. Three young left the nest, but only one has

survived to be completely independent of its parents. This young

bird, still in juvenile plumage, has been seen, and the nest inspected,

by Mr. Wesley T. Page. The old birds are now busy nesting again.

I will send an account of this happy event to the “ Avicultural ” in the

course of a few days, meanwhile I am putting in a formal claim for

a medal.


Gerald E. Rattigan.


Fluder House, Kingskerswell,


South Devon.


27th June, 1921.


THE CAPE BISHOP


Sirs, —Among the South African birds which seem now to be coming-

in, have any “ Kaffir Finches ” (Pyromelana capensis) been imported ?

I very much want to see one of these to compare with a Yellow-

backed Whydah I have.


E. Hopkinson.



REVIEWS


THE LIFE OF PROFESSOR NEWTON 1

The name of Professor Newton has long been and will long remain

a household word amongst ornithologists, not only in this country, but

throughout the world, for he was one of the leading ornithologists of

his time and his work will remain a model of what ornithological

investigation and literature should be. His Dictionary of Birds alone is

a masterpiece, every page testifying to the great knowledge and careful

work of its author and containing a mine of information. For upwards

of fifty years Alfred Newton held the chair of Zoology and Comparative

Anatomy at Cambridge University, and during all those years he never

lost an opportunity of helping and encouraging such of the under¬

graduates as were interested in ornithology, and to his help and teaching


1 Life of Alfred Newton. By A. F. R. Wollaston ; with a preface by

Sir Archibald Geikie, O.M. London : John Murray. Price, 18s. net.



