CURRUCA HEINEKEN. 



I took no trouble to prove the fact ; but as a friend visiting here last win- 

 ter seemed much inclined to doubt it, I have taken some pains to investi- 

 gate the matter, and the following are the results. 



" It is rare, for although the ordinary one is as common in our gardens 

 (even in the middle of the town) as the hedge-sparrow in those of England, 

 I have never seen above a dozen either at large or in confinement. I have 

 never seen or heard of a female example, and it is universally asserted 

 that such never occurs. A friend who keeps and pays a good deal of at- 

 tention to birds, once saw a Gapello cock and common hen tending the 

 same nest ; but as he had no object in doing so at the time, he did not take 

 the trouble of ascertaining the contents of the nest, or of pursuing the 

 matter farther. Two years ago, I had a bird of this variety, which I have 

 since ascertained was bought by the person from whom I obtained it of a 

 country boy, in the nest, along with a common cock. Nothing was known 

 of the parents, or of the rest of the young, if there were any. A short 

 time back, hearing that a neighbour had one, I sent for it to look at it : he 

 being aware that I had no intention of becoming a purchaser, and indeed 

 having no desire to dispose of the bird, being also too knowing in such mat- 

 ters to be easily deceived, may, I think, be thoroughly depended upon. He 

 states, that last year (1828) a common cock and hen (tinto negro), built a 

 nest in his garden ; that four young ones were hatched, one of which 

 died so young that nothing could be ascertained ; another proved to be a 

 common hen, a third a common cock, and this of the Capello variety. I 

 do not therefore hesitate to give it as a variety peculiar to the male." 



