Editorial. 
number about his head ami body, so that it is tliriicull to yive an accurate 
description of his colouring;;. 
■ ■ ■ ■ In the sparrow-trap with him was an ordinary hen chaffinch, and ! put 
lier in the aviary with him; she was very tame and came down to feed with 
the other I)irds at once, but unfortunately only lived a few days. 1 was 
sorry, as I thought they might have bred some curious coloured birds. The 
cock was very wild, and is so even now in spile of having been in captivity 
so long. 
1 was .assured that the bird would nioull into an ordinary chaflinch 
at his lirst moult, but this was not the case — after the moult there was no 
difference in his colouring. 
I did not put a mate into the aviary for him last season, as 1 th()UL;lit 
1 had made a mistake in his se.\, and he showed no signs of wanting a 
mate last season ; this season, however, I have heartl him sing several times, 
and be calls to the wild ones round the aviary, lint 1 h.ive never lu'rird him 
uller the familiar " fmlu, finlu " of the " linlu." 1 nnisl get a mate for 
him for another season now thai 1 am certain what his se.\ is. 
My aviary at the present time is not of much interest from an avicultural 
]ioint of view. A great number of Canaries and some Silverbills, the 
Chaffinch mentioned above .md one unfortunate Hedge Sparrow that was a 
prisoner in the trap with tlie chalfincii, and which 1 dare not release for fear 
of losing him: however, it seems perfectly contented with its lot. 
Sturminster Newton, May J.^rd, jq_']. K. E. ]'. (iORRlNGE. 
0 
Editorial. 
A Y(WNG Crank at tiik Zoo : In The field for May 2ist 
appears a short note on this interesting episode, from which we 
glean the following details : A pair of Japanese White-necked 
Cranes (I'cudogeranus IcncaucJicn) have occupied a large 
paddock in the north garden for some years; for the last two or 
three years the birds have attempted to breed, but the eggs have 
been addled. This year, however, a young White-neck has 
been hatched out — the first occasion, we believe, that a crane of 
any species has been hatched at the ^-oo. The nest was made 
at the bottom of the slope near the canal, and placed near to the 
wire fence. The nest was composed of straw and grass. Two 
eggs were laid, the first on March 31st. the second eight days 
later; after an incubation period of thirty-five days one egg 
hatched out, presumably the first laid one. The young chick 
is clothed in reddish down, with lighter patches at the shoulders, 
