152 Co?-respo?ide?ice.


The class provided for Albinos and " Rare-feathered specimens" is

generally an interesting one, and this year there was a very extraordinary

Albino Bullfinch. As is not uncommon with male Albinos of this species

the breast was pink, but this colour was not confined to this region but

extended over the top of the head.



The harm that has resulted from the introduction of predatory

animals into countries where such were previously unknown has been

strikingly illustrated in the well-known case of the Mongoose in the West

Indies, but perhaps an even more lamentable state of affairs is taking place

in certain parts of Australia. According to a writer in a recent number of

the Field the common fox, which was introduced chiefly to kill the rabbits, is

gradually exterminating the Lyre-bird, the " Native-companion " Crane

and other ground-frequenting species.


Great progress has been made towards the completion of the buildings

in the magnificent Zoological Park of New York, which covers some two

hundred and fifty acres, and the work is expected to be finished by the end

of 190S. During last year over two million visitors passed the turnstiles, an

average of six thousand a day.


The current issue of Bird Notes, the journal of the Foreign Bird Club,

contains a letter from Mrs. Miller, recording the laying of eggs in a cage by

a Violet-eared Waxbill, and the Editor adds a note to the effect that he

believes this to be the first instance of any aviculturist getting as far as the

laying of eggs by this species. He has overlooked the fact that Mr.

Phillipps recorded a similar event in the Avicultural Magazine for April,

1906 (page 204). In the same issue it is announced that Dr. Creswell will be

succeeded in the Editorship of Bird Notes by Mr. W. T. Page.



CORRESPONDENCE.



COLOUR-CHANGE IN FEATHERS.


Sir, — I have read in j r our January number, Mr. Bonhote's criticism

of my article on the moult of the Laughing Gull and heartily sympathize

with your desire to have this matter thrashed out.


The experience and assertions of such men as Prof. Gadow and Dr.

Butler are not lightly to be set aside, and it was with this in mind that I

wrote as the first phrase of the paragraph of my article, " The subject of

the alleged color change in full grown feathers in certain specific cases,"

(TheAuk,Vo\.X'KllI., No. 4, p. 454). My object in beginning this work

was to attack each specific case separately and by thorough, conscientious

observation settle them one way or the other.



