Correspondence, Notes, etc. 231



your questions, but perhaps some other of our Members may be able to do-

so. A. G. BuTi.eu.


[The pair of Lophophapsplumifera that bred at the Zoo. in 1895, nested

iu the grass in one of the smaller compartments of the Western Aviary.

One egg was dropped some distance from the nest where it was placed by

the keeper. The birds sat well and, so far as we can remember, the young

were able to run when a few days old. These birds do not appear to be

particularly delicate, and an outdoor aviary in Italy should suit them all

the year round ; growing grass appears to be absolutely necessary if they

are expected to nest.— Ed.] ^



SPARROWS NESTING IN NILE FERRY-BOATS; WINTER

QUARTERS OF THE COMMON QUAIL.


Our Member Mr. Percival, writing from the Nile between Berber and

Khartoum, narrates the following incident :—“ When I was here before I

noticed, while crossing the ferry, a cock Sparrow flying round the boat and

settling on the edge now and then, but thought nothing of it at the time.

Yesterday (February 26th) however, while I was waiting by the same boat, I

saw a pair of Sparrows playing about close by, and then noticed the cock enter

a hole in the side of the boat, and 011 examination found that there was a

nest in the hole but could not detect whether there were eggs or not. The

hole is only just above the water line, and is just under the (apologies for)

rowlocks. The boat is used night and day, and constantly carrying both

men and animals. The bird had all the appearance of being the ubiquitous

House Sparrow of smoky old London.”


Referring to statements which have been made that it is not known

where the Quails (Coturnix coturnix) that arrive in Egypt, etc., every

Autumn pass the Winter months, and to a request I have made that he

should be on the look out for them, Mr. Percival now writes as follows:—

“It may interest you to hear that Quail abound at El Obeid, seven days by

camel south-west from Khartoum. My namesake obtained about fifty in

one morning.” El Obeid is the capital of Kordofan, and lies about 22a

miles S.W. of Khartoum.—R. P.



ASPECT OF THE SOUTHPORT CORPORATION AVIARY.


Sir, —I find in my letter on the above subject in last month’s Maga¬

zine that I inadvertently did the local branch of the Protection of Birds

Society an injustice, in conveying the impression that they advocated the

removal of some of the more delicate birds from the Aviary', last winter

but one, to a Conservatory.


Mrs. Walker, the Honorary' local Secretary (not Mi. Walker as the

printer made me say) writes calling attention to this, and I am sorry that

I fell.into an error, for which the local press are responsible, and which



