270 Mr. W. P. Pycraft,


The following day after I had seen them so fully ready to

leave the nest, they had flown and I never saw them again, but

by the way the parent birds were chattering round me, it was

•evident that the children were there — and after that I never

saw nor did I hear even the parents. They all disappeared

■completely !


In the nest after the young had flown were the two eggs

•of the forlorn spinster looking perfectly fresh and intact. The

nest itself was as clean as the day on which it was completed, or

very nearly so. Once or twice I saw the mother-bird, when the

young were still there, on the edge of the nest to feed them, but

I never saw what she gave them because for fear of disturbing

her I never lingered or looked too closely.


That other nests were built by other Japanese Robins, I

-do not doubt, but they have all dispersed ; I see them no more,

no not one ! Whether they will put in an appearance with the

sear and yellow leaf remains to be proved, but I doubt it. It is

to be regretted, but the trial has not been without its reward.

JSTot to everyone in England is it given to go bird's-nesting and

find the nest of Japanese Robins, to look into that deep cup of

leaves and ha}' lined with fine dry grass, fibrous roots and

horsehair and see the pale blue eggs dotted over with chocolate-

coloured spots, to find those eggs gone and in their place three

callow young, to watch those young until they also were gone ;

not however gone where good Japanese Robins go, for had they

been good and had they been sensible, they would not have gone

at all ; they would have remained where food in winter time

would be always at hand for them. Oh, foolish unforeseeiug Japs !


Hubert D. Astxey.



NOTE ON THE BEAK OF A NESTLING


PSEPHOTUS MULTICOLOR.


By W. P. Pycraft, A.L.S., &c.


Knowing my interest in all that pertains to nestling birds

my frieud Mr. D. Seth-Smith lately sent me a nestling of the

Many-coloured Parrakeet (Psephotus multicolor^ about a fortnight

old, which had been hatched in his aviaries.



