i iS Correspondence, Notes, etc.



The earliest records I can get are from the “Irish Nationalist” of

1893, when six were shot, in 1S94 one was shot and one caught alive, and in

1902 another bird was shot. This brings us up to date 1903.


In October one was shot near Lurgan.



Nov. 6—Two s

„ 12—One ?


,, 19—One (?


,, 28—Two <f


Dec. 2—One s

„ 5—One ?


„ 5—One ?


,, 8—One ?


„ 10—One t? & One


A good number have also



from Toomebridge.


„ Lurgan.


,, Rathungan.


,, Antrim.


,, Larne.


„ Lisburn.


„ Aglialee.


,, Whitehead.


? ,, Islandmagee.


been seen in co. Galway.



This finishes the record up to the present of authenticated specimens,

but I have heard from different sources that a great many have been seen

feeding 011 haws and other berries. It is a pity they get such a warm

reception of powder and shot, as, I am sorry to say, is the case with most

rare birds visiting our shores.


W. H. Workman.



AFRICAN FIREFINCHES BREEDING IN OUTDOOR AVIARY.


Referring to the Rev. C. D. Farrar’s “ Record ” which was published

in our October Number, at page 407, the following communication has been

forwarded to us by our Member Mrs. Oswald Webber:—


The aviary has been formed by wiring in a portion of a verandah

round my home in Yorkshire, on the south side. Beyond the protection

afforded by the wall of the house and the roof of the verandah, it is quite

open. The finches (African Firefinclies) were turned in, to the best of my

recollection, in the spring of 1889. Before long they built—as far as I can

remember the nest was placed on a ledge in the roof, but how it was con¬

structed I cannot remember.


I believe only one egg was laid, which was duly hatched, one young

bird appearing, which flew about the aviary with its parents.


Towards autumn the three birds, one by one, disappeared, escaping

through the meshes of the wire. The young one might have been about

four months old. T. WEBBER.



THE NILE SWALLOW-TAILED BEE-EATER.


Our Member Mr. Walter G. Percival, whose head-quarters at present

are at Berber in the Sudan, under date 20th September, 1903, writes as

follows :—



