319



Correspondence , Notes, etc.



very beautiful Pigeons be introduced into the London Parks, where they

should do as well as the Woodpigeons have done ?


In the above letter Mr. Gibbins kindly offers to help in such an ex¬

periment, and if others would do so we would be very willing to see that it

was carried out properly. The birds could be obtained next autumn or

winter, and we have the authority of the Secretary of the Zoological

Society for stating that they could be housed and attended to in the

Zoological Gardens until the early spring, when they would be liberated,

and during the ensuing summer they would doubtless breed iuthe trees

in the Park.


If our members consider the idea a good one we should be pleased to

receive subscriptions towards this object, which would be acknowledged in

the Magazine. Ed.].



COCK PHEASANT BROODING CHICKS.


Sir, —The attached cutting from the ‘Selby Express,’ dated July 6th,

may be worthy of note. Archibald Simpson.


“Curiosity in Natural History.—A cock pheasant was recently

found by Mr. Boscombe, keeper at Staynor Wood, sitting on a nest and

brooding the eggs. These he eventually hatched, and went off with the

chicks. That such a polygamous bird as the pheasant should sit would in

itself be a very remarkable occurrence, bnt that he should afterwards go off

with the chicks makes it still more extraordinary.”



THE NESTING OF QUAILS.


Sir, —So far as the present season has gone I have been very

fortunate in the rearing of Quails. As recorded in last month’s issue a

brood of C. delegorguei were hatched on June 8th. These are now full

grown and the two cocks in almost full colour. On the 8th of July a hen

Australian Stubble-Quail ( Coturnix pectoralis ) hatched off a brood of seven

chicks, all of which are doing well, and now about half-grown ; while on

July 19th, the hen C. delegorguei hatched her second brood, this time

numbering seven, one of which was a weakling and died before leaving the

nest. D. S-S.



RARE BIRDS AT THE ZOO.


The birds sent by Mr. Harper and mentioned on page 315 consist of

4 Greater Saltator Tanagers (Saltator magnus), 1 Yellow-bellied Tanager

(Calliste flaviventris), 2 Red-breasted Marsh-birds (Leistes guianensis), 2

Dwarf Ground Doves [Chanicepelia griseola), 4 Fire-red Finches ( Spermophi -

la miniita), 6 Lavender-backed Finches (S. castaneiventris), 4 Black-headed

Lined Finches (S. ocellata), and 1 Golden Hangnest (. Icterus xanthorhus).



