Correspondence. 
231 
Siberian Bullfinches are incubating their second clutch ; the iirat 
clutch, though fertile, did not hatch out. 
Pectoral Finches have built in the ivy near the ground. — 
other Mannikins are nesting, but it ts impossible to bell if they are 
really sitting or not, in spite of their having built nests and apparently 
sitting iu turrus. 
A coek Spice Finch has paired up with a hen Bengalese X Tri- 
colour Mannikin hj'brid. 1 think thry may have young as I notice 
a lot of droppings round the nest entrance, but thi:}" are. next the 
Bib Finches, ami 1 cannot be sure if the nois& comes from one or 
both nests . 
There are many other nests and, I think, more young Aust- 
ralian Finches of sorts, but none jabout yet, except those already' 
mentioned . 
The Pileated Finches have a platform about eight inches long 
in front of their nest. They are taking in fruit and in.sects frequently 
bO 1 think there are young birds within. 
The Yellow -throated Sparrows {Gy)iin'jr]tis flavieoUis) are nesting, 
but ihc^' are a very shy species and 1 cannot find the nest. 
My various Doves have done very well ; the following have 
j'ouug on llu-' wini; in various encdosures : Masked Violets ( "i i, 
and Diamond, Peaceful, and Eed Mountain have young. 
Cressington Park, 
28/7/' 15. HERBERT BRIGHT. 
STRAY KOTES. 
Sir, — I have just been home for the week-end, and have had 
a few hours: with my birds, etc. Items of interest to me I am sending 
to you as they may interest pthers ; I am also including results to 
date : i [ 
Ikdian Whitk-eyes {Zosterops palpcbrosa) : Last year my 
pair of this species hatched out twice, but did not succeed in rearing any 
young. This season the same pair have hatched out three broods of 
3, 2, 3 : of the two first broods no young; flew ; but from the last' 
one j'oting bird left the nest a week ago, and it) looks like living. 
The parent birds are now constructing their fourth n 'st this season. 
Diamond Doves (Geopclia ciinvata) : My luck with this species 
has nol been great. There is one J'oung bird in the nest ; others have 
fiown but have not reached the stage of being independent of their pareute ; 
others have been hatched out but have not flown, and again some 
clutches have not hatched out. 
RuFiCAUuA Fi-\CHKS {BathUchi ruflcaudu) : This charming, but 
often disappointing, species arc now incubating a. i luti h of five eggs. 
Diamond Spabrows {Sltganoplmra guttula): Have done a 
little better with these ; three young are on the wing but not yet inde- 
pendent of their parents. One 3'oung bird iiew quite earlj- in the year, 
but its life was a short one. The parent birds are now incubating 
another clutch of five eggs. 
