Correspondence. 
I really find it quite casj- now ; it is just the first day that care 
is wanted, as after this they soon learn to take the food themselves from 
the dish . 
Osborne biscuits, " Uveco," crushed wheat, and bread and milk, 
enable on:' to supply a varied diet, and they thrive well upon it. Millet 
seed they take to at once, as soon as they are old enough to crack it. 
One lot had a l ide through Yorkshii e in an open Motor car when 
war was declared, and had to be fed during the jouruey — they really were 
a bit frightened . 
Wakefield,20/y/'li (Mrs.) ELEANOR CARTWRTGHT. 
SUCCESSFUL REARING OP COMBASOU, ETC. 
Sir, — I am pleased to report tJw successful rearing of a young 
Combasou in my aviary this year, by a pair of Cordon Bleus. I should 
be much obliged if you will let me know if it has been reared in Eng- 
land previously. 
The hens of the respective pairs (Conibasous and Cordon BleusX 
each laid eggs in the same uest, the Combasou tlu-ei', and the Coruon 
Bleu four. 
The Cordon lileus aione incubated, m fact the Combasous took 
no interest in Ihe nest wLalevcr after the hen had deposited her eggs 
therein ■ neither did they later attempt to feed or brood the young bird. 
OJ the seven eggs only three hatched out, one Combasou and two 
Cordon Bleus, but the latter were not fed ; the young Combasou, however, 
did well and is now fending for itself. 
The parent birds were supplied with mealworms, grconfood, the 
ordinary- seeds and millet sprays. 
The young bird was about a fortnight old when it left the nest, 
buc I have no dates. When first hatched its beak was black with white 
beads at the corners. It very much resembles the hen (Combasou), but 
the breast is darker ajid it is a little smaller. I am afraid it is a 
hen, as although it has been out of the nest fully three weeks, it has 
so far showed no signs of coming into colour [even if a cock it' is 
very doubtful if it would come into colour this year. ... It is a 
great pity members do not keep proper records of such episodes, as with- 
out dates, etc., even most interesting episodes have little value. — En.]. 
Other Ecsults : — 
Person Finches hatched out hii\ did not rear. 
Zebra Finches hatched out several broods, but went to nest again 
before they had time to rear . 
Cordon Bleus had three broods, but only fully reared the young 
Combasou. I think some of my failures were due to being finable to get 
live ants' eggs when they were required 
Bideford, 22/9/14. (Mrs.) MARY BOYD. 
THE HOMING INSTINCT. 
Sir, — It may be of interest if I record what interested me greatly. 
Some months ago I gave a pair of Grey Java Sparrows to a 
friend in North Wales and shortly af!er wards received a letter acknow- 
