Correspondence , Notes , etc. 115


1 of “ Century Food ” or its equivalent, and only to give the cake as an

occasional treat. My Tauagers feed chiefly upon fruit, but they do take a

certain quantity daily of the soft food: they are not large eaters.


A. G. Bui'r.ER.



HYBRID ;-NUTMEG FINCH X SILVER BILL.


Sir,— For the past three years I have kept Silver Bills, Zebra Finches,

Nuns and similar small birds practically in a wild state, they having access

to a flight of over 100 ft. long, about 50 ft. wide, and 12 ft. high, with plenty

of growing shrubs and fruit trees to nest in.


Along with these smaller birds I keep a few large ones, such as

Cardinals, Virginian Nightingales, Tauagers, &c., and have found in this

sized aviary that the larger birds do not molest the smaller ones, but allow

them to breed freely, and I have successfully reared nest after nest without

trouble; and even now as I write (November 7) I have two nests of young

Zebra Finches in the open (nests in peach trees growing against a wall),

while another young brood of four are flying about fed by their parents.


In Jill}’ last my stock of Nutmeg Finches dwindled down to one cock

bird, owing chiefly I believe to their getting into my fish-ponds for a bath

and being drowned. I noticed that this single bird appeared to be on very

friendly terms with the Silver Bills, but thought nothing of it until I saw

him apparently feeding young in a Silver Bill’s nest; and, to my delight,

shortly afterwards I saw three young birds flying about which were certainly

a cross between the Nutmeg and a Silver Bill.


Not having heard that such a cross had been obtained before, I wrote

to our Honorary Secretary on the subject, and at his request now submit

particulars of the young birds. Their general appearance and actions are

very similar to those of the Silver Bill, but with the markings and colours

of the Nutmeg distinct upon their forehead, chin, throat, and foreneck,

while the beak is neither so light in colour as the Silver Bill’s, nor so dark

as the Nutmeg Finch’s.


the Nutmeg markings continue right along under the wings, getting

more distinct over the lower part of the back and rump; while the tail

feathers, instead of partaking of the golden-bronze colour of the Nutmeg,

have turned to almost a jet black since the moult.


In size the hybrids are rather larger than a Silver Bill, but stouter in

body and build; while the one I have before me now has one pure white

feather among the primaries of the left wing; the eyes are slightly larger

and bolder than the Silver Bill’s. *


H. B. Rabbich.



Is not this a new hybrid?—R. P.



