Npsthhj Notef!. 
135 
built ill a Hurtz t i-iivellin,i> caHe, two eggs were laid. One of these 
was killed hy tiie other Siskins, as I saw them fighting, but did 
not think it suttieiently serious to call for interference. I do not 
take much notice of fighting in the breeding season. 
1 am sending you the l)ird and nest as I think it may 
interest you.* I iiavc put the two eggs untler a Canary this 
morning (April 24). 
Bearded Tits {/'((nHnt^i hidniiicKs \_Lin)i~\. ). 1 had a 
couple of Bearded Tits liatelied out last year, these lived to l)e a 
week old, when unfortunately 1 found the male parent dead — it 
lookeil very nnieli as if he had been poisoned — and the young 
were of course starved to d(>ath. 
[ * The body was rather " high " when it arrived and after a passing 
glance, had to send it off very hurriedly to the taxidermist ; the impression 
gathered was, that it was of a warmer hue generally than the female of our 
indigenous species, the striations of the under surface much less distinct and 
has the rump and upper tail coverts bright yellow, but I shall refer to them 
again when skin is to hand. The nest was a neat construction, cup-shaped, 
about 4i in. outside diameter, the cup being about 2 in. diameter by Ij in. 
deep. It was constructed of stiffish bents and lined with cocoa-nut fibre. Ed.] 
Foreign Birds. 
By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., etc. 
( ciintiiiiipd from pai/e 74). 
CHAPTER IIP—TANAGRID.E. 
This family includes many of the most popular, as well as some 
of the most gorgeous of Neotropical birds. Varied es their colour 
range is — covering as it does nearly every tint of the rainbow- -their 
size and characteristics are equally so, for they may be said to range 
in size from (to use a familiar comparison) a Blue Tit to a Song 
Thrusli. Tanagers are fruit-eating Finches, and on accoimt of their 
beaks terminating in a little tootii, have been designated by Dr. 
Sclater dentirostal Finches. The small tocth at the end of the beak is 
of great value to this family, enabling tliem to scoop out large niouth- 
fuls of soft fruit, which forms the major portion of their diet. This 
feature is practically common to the whole family — however it is 
practically absent in Chlorochrysa and Ati'emon- while the extent of 
the development of this feature in the various genera is very variable. 
* As a matter of convenience I am dealing with the family Ttuimjridce 
not in its proper sequence, as it should follow after CCEREBIDiE, therefore 
Chapter III. precedes Chapter II. 
