44 
Notes on Bird Life in Mesopotamia. 
Worksop and London are very different localities. In 1916 
eii^ht young birds came into my possession, two each of 
which went to Mr. W. Shore Baily and Mr. H. Bright, and 
in the late summer one of the remaining four died; the other 
three duly moulted out and proved to be two cocks and 
one hen, one of the cocks duly mated with the hen, but no 
attempt at nesting was made till September, then one squab 
was hatched out, and this was reared till nearly fledged 
and suddenly forsaken. I am hoping that this next season I may 
have the pleasure of seeing young Green-wings in my aviarv 
once more. I may say the three birds referred to above spent 
ih? whole of the terril)le 1916-7 winter out of doors, and are still 
out and in exhibition form. The winter here since mid-Decem- 
ber has been exceptionall}^ severe, though mild weather has 
prevailed the last three days, but up to date (January 21st) there 
has been 4 inches of snow on the flight tops on four occasions, 
and from 10 to 23 degrees Fahr. has been registered on many 
occasions — the ( ireen-wings invariably roost out of doors and 
I repeat their condition can only be described as robust, and 
" spic and span." 
To he eoiitinncd. 
^-M-^ 
Notes of Bird Life in Mesopotamia. 
By Lieut. W. R. B.vtty. 
It is interesting to note the difference between common 
English birds and their counterparts, in Mesopotamia. For 
instance the Eastern version of the Sparrow has nothing (in the 
cock bird at least) of the bold markings of the home bird. His 
head markings do not exist and his black bib is much reduced, 
or even changed into dark spots on the upper part of his breast. 
Larks again differ chiefly by having much more prom- 
inent crests and holder markings, their tails are generally very 
dark brown. 
Starlings here have every feather tipped with dead white, 
wliich gives them quite a grey appearance at a distance. 
Hooded Crows are a good deal larger and the grey por- 
tions of their plumage are of so pale a shade that it seems almcst 
white. 
