234 Correspondence , Notes , etc.



resembled the now familiar Blue-winged Siva, but was longer and slenderer,

'pjie wings and tail in this species are marked with orange instead of blue,

and the under surface is pale yellow with black transverse bars on the

throat. The species inhabits the Himalayas, and is evidently as easily

managed as the Blue-winged, a couple of which, also in fine condition,

arrived and were sold with it. Frank Finn.



BREEDING CHERRY-FINCHES.


Sir,—I have a nest of Cherry-finches: the eldest of the nestlings

■came out of the cocoanut husk in which it was hatched on Saturday

(April 2nd), the second on Sunday, and the cock bird so often goes into the

husk that I do not feel quite certain that they are all out yet.


I cannot find a record of their having been bred in this country

Before, in any of my books. And yet it seems almost impossible that

these can be the first. They have had no special attention paid them, and

have nested without fuss or trouble. The hen has been ill for some time,

and has not, I think, done much of the feeding, and yesterday she died.

The cock is most devoted to the youngsters, who are well feathered, active,

and large, and are even now using their bills, though I don’t fancy they

actually eat anything. Lilian Williams.


The following reply has been sent to Mrs. Howard Williams:


Mr. Cronksliaw bred one Cherry-fincli in 1895 and Miss Husband bred

three in 1S9S; others may have succeeded subsequently, but these two

instances will suffice. I only got as far as eggs myself.


A. G. Butler.



WINTERING FOREIGN BIRDS OUT OF DOORS.


Sir,—I think it will interest you to hear that I have succeeded in

wintering in my outdoor aviary five Green Singing-finches, four Avadavats,

four Red-billed Weavers, pairs of Black-headed and White-bellied Manni¬

kins, a hen Bronze-winged Mannikin, a pair of Silverbills, a hen Bengali, a

pair of Spice-fiuclies, a pair of Chinese Buntings, three Zebra-finch liens, a

hen White and a pair of Grey Javas, a cock Orange Bishop, a pair of Ribbon-

finches and about fifty Canaries. I removed the majority of the Canaries

in February.


I have lost three cock Zebra-finclies, a pair of Zebra Waxbills, a pair

of Nonpareil Buntings, two Wliite-bellied Mannikins, a hen Green Singing-

finch, and a hen Avadavat. I cannot account for the deaths of the Zebra-

finches, and wish that I had sent one at least to Mr. Gill. The Zebra

Waxbills were only bought last July, three months too late, and I attribute

the loss of the Nonpareils to the want of sufficient insect food.



