214



Mrs. Rathborne,



“ April 8. Parents building hard. Put a sack over the

nesting site to check them, as the young appear to be neglected.


“ April 9. Young ones with empty crops. As the hen has

not been seen to feed them for days, remove her from the aviary.

Cock, having no hen to attract his attention, takes to the young

again and feeds them well. Hen laid egg in other aviary.”


I believe, had I left the hen, the young would not have

been looked at again, but having removed her all went well

for a few days. Soon, however, the cock began to get restless

and discontented, cooing for the hen continually, and the young

did not appear to be doing very well. As I write (April 14th)

one is strong and well, though does not appear to feed itself; it

looks like living : but the other is decidedly weak though there

was food in its crop when last examined. I have decided to

try the hen with the other male in the large wire aviary now

that the weather is warmer, and hope for complete success

next time.


(To be continued).



ROCK THRUSHES AT RIVA.


By Mrs. Rathborne.


Being very much interested in the Blue and Pied Rock

Thrushes, my husband and I thought we would combine orni¬

thology with our little summer trip last year, and look up these

interesting birds in their native haunts.


Solely from its appearance on the map, we selected the

little village of Riva at the top of Pago Garda as a likely place,

we knew absolutely nothing about it, or how to get to it, but it

looked as if it ought to be pretty and above all “Rock

Thrushy.” So, calling Dean and Dawson’s very kind agent into

consultation, w'e managed to get booked through to Desanzano

at the foot of Dago Garda, from whence a large steamer brought

us up the lake to Riva.


The scenery was exquisite in the brilliant sunshine, and the

orange houses, vineyards, and olive groves made it quite typical



