176



Correspondence , Notes, etc.



Of course, groundsel and chickweed are excellent, if obtained fresh

in the spring and summer, but I should hesitate to give them at this time of

year even if obtainable.


White-eared Conures have frequently laid in captivity, and there is at

least one case on record of young being hatched, but not reared. I know of

no case of succeessful breeding, though as the species is not rare I think it

is very probable that young birds may have been reared, but there is

apparently no published record of such an event.


D. Seth-Smith.



CROSSBILLS.


The following reply was sent to a member's query :


I don’t see why Crossbills should not breed in an aviary with some

Scots fir boughs, or a young tree or two with bushy heads and well¬

leaved boughs. They are very early breeders. There is no time to lose.

I certainly never heard of young being reared in captivity. I should

think the}’’ will certainly be fed for the first fortnight at least on insect food.

I suppose the indispensable meal-worm would be required, if young were

hatched ? Also any small caterpillars that could be obtained. I wonder if

anybody in difficulties with newly-hatched insectivorous birds ever tried

small silk worms ?


My White-winged Crossbill was not destructive in the wood and wire

aviary in which he was over a year. But I recollect that the common

bird in a cage was very restless, and twisted the wires out of place. In an

aviary plenty of fir cover (Scots fir and larch) might keep them occupied.


W. H. ST. Ouintin.



HYBRID MUNIAS.

printer’s error.


An unfortunate printer’s error crept into the note under the above

heading in our last number. Dr. Butler is made to say “ the indistinctness

of M. ferruginosa as a species is generally admitted,” whereas what he

wrote was “ the distinctness of M. ferruginosa as a species is generally

admitted.”



