Corres'povdence. 
235 
Robins, Starlings, Thrushes, Blackbirds, and Blue Tits, whik' I 
have also seen individuals of : Owl (Barn 1 think), Lonf?-tailed 
Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, and Linnet, while on Sunday afternoon 
last (July 31st) a younj^ Cuckoo disported itself about the fences 
around the lawn. Three weeks a^o I heard but did not see our 
" Queen of Songsters " the Nightingale (possibly a captive bird). I 
have only at present discovered two nests,* but that there are, or 
have been many others, in some vei'y tall Lombard y Poplars l)or- 
dering the lawn, my ears have assured me. Furthei- notes must 
however be left till I have had a more extended ac(iuaintance 
with the wild life of my garden. W.T.P. 
Correspondence. 
HOMING BLACK-FACED LOVEBIRD. 
Sir. — The following particulars 1 think might interest some of our 
members. On January 9th, 1909, T purchased a pair of this species from our 
esteemed member, Mr. Millsum. During the time T have kept them, they 
have apparently been in the best of health until two or three weeks ago, 
when I noticed the hen was ailing ; it got no better and died June 21st. 
On Sunday morning, June 26th, 1 saw the cock bird in my garden 
aviarj', but in the afternoon I found it was missing, and after a little search 
found a small opening -where it had evidently passed through to libertJ^ 
During the whole of the week I did not see or hear anything of it, and had 
quite made up my mind I should not again, but to my surprise on Sunday, 
July 3rd, I saw it on the aviary top. I opened the door and it immediately 
flew in. T may say it looked none the worse for the week's holiday. 
W, H. PICKLES. 
THE BREEDING OF GOULDIAN FINCHES. 
Sir. — Possibly a few notes, by a novice, on the breeding of Gouldians 
may be of interest to some " B.X." readers. No doubt, to all true bird 
lovers, there comes at times, an overwhelming desire to possess and breed a 
particulars species. My first sight of a pair of Gouldians captivated me 
body and soul. Henceforth my desire in life was to possess a pair. 
Gouldians at that time — only last winter, seemed almost as extinct as 
the Dodo— at least as regards any being on sale. Eventually by the aid of 
an advertisement, coupled with, what to-day, would be regarded as a ridicu- 
lous offer, I obtained a beautiful and acclimatized pair from our esteemed 
Hon. Sec. In an unfortunate moment I decided to exhibit the cock, with 
the all too frequent result, he died of pneumonia. With the kindness which 
characterizis our Hon. Sec, he supplied me with an immature bird which 
turned out to be a hen. After much waiting I obtained a Red-headed cock 
(my first pair were Ulack-heads) ; but there was the young unmated hen, 
* Willow AVren and Tiirusli. 
