Field iVo/r.f from Mashonaland. 
37 
mean to say tliat l:)efore they assume their adult colouring- there 
are no traces visil^le of the father's characteristics, l)Ut the 
remark is true for the plumage as a whole. 
(3) When the young' birds are full grown, however, it 
is most often the case that they resemble their fathers, although 
the ascendency of the mother is always evident. It is clear that 
this is not a hard and fast rule: as a notable exception 1 might 
quote the case of a beautiful hybrid Astrild ondule x Cordon 
Bleu: but this is usually the case, and almost always hap])ens. 

Field Notes from Mashonaland. 
Bv (iUV I'^.ALKNKR, F.Z.S. 
These rough notes are mainly about the birds of .Southern 
Rhodesia. 
January i8th, 1920. It was very interesting seeing a 
Chameleon I caught to-day. I put it on my coat, which was a 
greenish-grey tweed, more grey than green, and lield it up near 
the peach tree I caught it on. The side nearest the peach tree 
turned the same colour as the !ea\ es — a vivid green — l)ut the side 
nearest me turned a greyish-green colour, almost the exact hue 
of my coat. It was very interesting: it looked as if each side of 
the chameleon had been painted — all this took place in the short 
time of under two minutes — the quickest change I have ever 
seen a chameleon able to achieve. 
There are lots of baby chameleons on the bougainvillea 
trees feeding on minute spiders: they were about" as large as 
tadpoles before the feet begin to form — funny looking little 
chaps, reminding one very much of a gargoyle come to life: 
while so young as this they seem unable to turn any other colour 
except what they are on being born — a greyish-green. 
With this non-birdy introduction I will confine myself to 
the birds. 
One of the " boys " on the farm shot a Bee-eater and 
winged it, otherwise it was quite unhurt, and Ris suggestion (he 
was Dutch ! ) that I should cage it and feed it on mealies (maize) 
and bread was rather beyond the mark ; I am afraid it woiild not 
