Correspondence. 
141 
They chose a wooden nest-box for their home and snugly lined 
it with hay and feathers. In due course a clutch of eggs was deposited 
therein, upon which the hen sat for the whole period of incubation, (ho 
result being four young hybrids duly hatched out ; all went well ; they 
left the nest when about three weeks old. In the nestling plumage they 
were like very dark coloured Silverbills, but quite a radical change took 
place at the moult. 
I am not good at describing plumage and I will take an early 
opportunity of sending you one for inspection. After the moult their 
colouration was roughly as follows: Above dark brown; flight and tail- 
feathers black ; below cream -colour, with brown breast barred with darker 
lines, and spangled on the thighs. There is considerable variation 
among them, in fact no two are alike ; one has some spangling on the 
breast. Three of them have b-?en kept indoors, in a big flight, but 
the other one has been out all the winter. 
In the aviary last summer were pairs of the following species : 
Cordon Bleus ; Avadavats ; Cutthroats ; Steel Finches ; Orange -cheek, 
Grey, and Gold-breasted Waxbills. Also odd cocks of Gouldian, Dia- 
mond, Lavender, and Zebra Pinches ; Chaffinch ; Orange Bishop : and 
Java Sparrow. The Chaffinch 1 picked up four years ago with a 
broken wing, and he has b,''en living happily in the aviary ever since. 
The Cordon Bleus had three broods, of which three were reared 
to maturity. 
The Cutthroats had numerous clutches of eggs, but only incu- 
bated the last and two young birds were fully reared. 
The Avadavats nested and laid eggs, but would not incubate. 
In conclusion, I may say that the young hybrids reared were 
from the second nest ; the first nest only produced one young bird which 
was killed the day it left the nest by ihs cock Steel Finch. 
Wchhcry, Bideford, Dcvo)i, 29/3/14. (Mrs.) MARY BOYD. 
AVIARY JSrOTES, 1913. 
Sir, — In response to your enquiry; I am sending you the following 
notes. I did not send them before, as I thought that they were hardly 
interesting enough . 
Blue-wing Sivas {Siva cycDUiropti ra j . A pair of this species 
went to nest, laid, and then deserted ; why, I have never found out. 
Wc had two true pairs, but fog killed them all . I do not think 
this species can be as hardy as Mesias. 
Silver-eared Mesias {Mesia argailauris). This species ap- 
pears to be quite hardy, for they have been out all year, and now 
(February 1st) both pairs are absolutely perfect. The aviary which 
one pair have occupied has practically no shelter, yet they have never 
had a day's illness. Last year one pair — our old pair — got as 
