Correspondence. 153 
bred birds have gone to nest. One pair of mine before I sold my surplus 
birds, made a half-hearted attempt at a nest in a cocoa-nut husk and laid 
one egg, but afterwards deserted. HAYWARD W. MATHIA8. 
Members' Gathering at the Zoo. 
It may interest our iiieiiiburs to know that the second niuotiiig at the Zoo 
that was arranged for at the last Palace Show and announced in last month's 
■' li/ri/ Xotc!^''' took place on Saturday, 7th May. The weather in the earlier 
part of the day was very unsettled and stormy, and this, no doubt, deterred 
some from joining tliose who had the temerity to take their chance in this 
respect. The afternoon and early evening were fine though cold, so that 
those who had made up the party were agreed that a most enjoyable and 
instructive time had been spent among the birds. Our party was piloted by 
our esteemed Editor, Wesley T. Page, Esq. At tea our party was increased 
by our esteemed member, F. Finn, Esq., and a most interesting and instructive 
time was spent in exchanging experiences and discussing various avicultural 
topics, very interesting were some anecdotes of Indian birds related by Mr. 
Finn. We made a thorough inspection of the birds in the Small Bird House 
as well as the outside aviaries attached thereto. The Ti-i-coloured Starling 
came in for general admiration, the colours on the wings being beautifully 
displayed when in flight. The Birds of Paradise were fast coming into colour 
especially The Lawes, two new Pigmy Owls, Tanagers, Sugar Birds, Cardi- 
nals, Finches, and last but not least the African Zosterops were greatly 
admired. The Western Aviaries were next visited, here we were conducted 
through the different aviaries and so had an exceptional opportunity of in- 
specting their respective occupants. The Fantailed Flj'catcher which caught 
mealworms in most graceful and approved fashion, a Black-winged Grackle 
which was exceedingly tame, running over each of us in turn, the mud nest 
of the Pied Graliina, built upon a wooden bracket, and a number of other 
birds too numerous to mention, that were tame enough to come close to us at 
the sight of a mealworm, made our visit to this series of aviaries both inter- 
esting and instructive. 
After tea we paid a visit to the Parrot House, Pheasantries, and the 
new quarters (not yet completed) for the vultures, and also to the Insect 
House, and then finished our visit to the Gardens by watching the birds in 
the Waders' Aviary. The Ruffs, &c., display being extremely entertaining ; 
in fact we found it difficult to leave a scene so full of strange antics and 
boisterous demeanour. 
Before closing these brief notes I should like to express the indebted- 
ness of the members of our party to our friend, Mr. Page for his self-denying 
efforts on our behalf to make our visit to the Zoo an occasion of considerable 
pleasure as well as being an education to most of us. We all expressed at 
parting that we hoped we should soon have the pleasure of again meeting 
under similar auspices, and I am glad to learn that it is being arranged to 
have another such gathering sometime in .June next. 
W. T. ROUEKS. 
The first of these meetings was ecjually successful and enjoyable ; the 
time was all too short and a desire for another similar gathering (mid-week 
and for the whole day if possible) to be arranged for. I shall be glad if 
