232 
Correspondence. 
Ked-ueaded Finches i^Aiiiadina crylhroci'phala ) ; This .specii's 
was quite prolilio with me last reason. This year there arp, dix or 
seven young birds independent ot' their parents and another not quitii 
independent. One or more jL-iirs are again engaged in the duties of 
incubation . 
Zejska Finches (Taoiiop/jijia custanutis): Twelve to fourteen 
in all have been reared this season ; of the-se four are not yet inde- 
pendent, of their parents, but strong on thv wing ; and several havn 
been sent away to other aviaries, when-, 1 liopi', they arc doing well 
and enjoying life. 
Thorpe, ' 
14/7/ '15. (Sec. Lieut.) W. A. R.VINRRIDGE : 
rit would be very helpful if nu'mlx'rs could give, or siigirest, 
the reason-; which they think were responsible lor f.-iiliivis witli cer- 
tain species tii rear young, a.<. I'or instance — Diaiuoiid Doves m (he 
above. Of cours<' Sec. -Lieut. H.-iinliridg- has bi'"ii awuy on service 
and unable to take obs(;rva(ion, but othi'.rs arc more rortunatel\- ])l:iciMl 
and we press this point upon them. — En.]. 
BREEDlXt; HESl LTS, i'Jl.'j. 
Sir, — We wintered three pairs of Parrot Finchi'.s { Eri/I /•nini. 
psittacea) out of doors last winter, in a large aviary with unhcated 
shelter . 
First pair : Nested early and hatched out, but the young wei'c 
found dead in nest some time in ^Lirch. 
Second pair : Three were hatched in the beginning of .Tune, ol' 
which one was found dead half out of nest, and, on being removed 
and carefully examined it was found that its tongue was injured, 
presumably bitti'u, whilst feeding, by one of the old birds. It had 
evidently' stopped feeding, as crop was quite empty. The other two 
were fully reared, and are now fending for themselves ; they are very 
fine birds, just showing red chests. 
Third pair; These also nested, and have reared one youngster. 
As the nesting place was not discovered it is impossible to say whether 
there were others . 
The first pair are building again. 
Zebka Fixciie.s (Tacniopygia casianotis) : I had in one nviary 
four cocks and one hen; three hens having died during the winter. 
Curiously enough, the first clutch hatched out were f>illy reared, con- 
sisting of four hens and one cock. So thcr<> are now five com- 
plete pairs in the aviary, all of which are alr<'ady showing signs of 
nesting. The original pair have another lot this morning, only six 
weeks after the first brood left the nest, but I cannot yet say how 
manj' there are. Is it possible that the original pair bred the he 
to order for the unmated cocks ? 
Other birds are nesting. A Quail Finch which I thought wa^ 
a cock has laid six eggs, on six consecutive days, on the ground (in 
