92 
Correspondence. 
The brood under observation flew indue course, and shortly 
after this event the old birds built a second nest and reared five 
more young. The hen alone incubated and brooded, and for the 
first few d.iys the cock brought food which he passed to the hen 
to distribute to their offspring. 
Most of the food seemed to be found amongst the tall 
bracken, and at times the cock would arrive with his beak simply 
crammed with caterpillars. 
I found by cutting a rather long furze bi'anch, and strip- 
ping all but a few spikes from it (see plates) and sticking it in the 
bround about a yard from the nest, the birds always used this 
to pitch on when ariiving with food. Having focussed this stick 
and tilted the camera, so as to get a clear sky background, I had 
but to await the birds' arrival to make my exposures. 
I was indeed sorry when the work was over, for I had just 
time to discover-in what harmony they lived, and with what dili- 
gence they worked before they left their secluded home to wan- 
der like gip.sies over the surrounding country. 
Correspondence. 
INFERTILE EGGS. 
Sir, — I beg to tender my sincere thanks to yourself and others who 
so kindly favoured me during 1911 with such a nice collection of infertile 
birds' eggs, and may I venture to remind those unfortunate enough to obtain 
clear clutches durnig the coming season, that I shall be very pleased if they 
will again remember me. The date of laying and locality of nest adds con- 
siderable interest to my collection, and i should like to have them as soon as 
possible after the period of incubation so that 1 may the more readily get 
them blown perfectly clear. CLAUDE E. TYlSON. 
GROWING CANARY SEED. 
Sir, — Allow me to recommend those of my fellow members who have 
not been in the habit of growing canary-seed to plant some this Spring. 
March is a good month for sowing, and the seed should be scattered broadcast 
and thinly. Then put a layer of light soil over it, pat it down with the Hat side 
of a spade and cover with pea guards or a piece of wire-netting, which may 
be removed when the plants are a couple of inches high. It is best grown in 
the open in a sunny place, the soil being of the same quality as ordinary 
vegetables are grown in. It ripens in July and August, when a sharp look 
out is required to save it from the depredations of wild birds. 1 generally 
take some of mine when the green husks begin to turn yellow, and the rest 
as soon as it is fairly ripe. Cut the stalks near the ground, tie it up in 
bundles, and hang up, head downwards, on a dry wall out of the reach of 
mice. In this part of Essex (Maldon), when 1 was a young man, i.e. in the 
early seventies, a great many fields were given up by farmers to the growth 
of this cereal, but they tell me that nowadays it does not pay to grow it. 
All the birds I have ever kept— canaries, tinclies, parrots, parrakeets and 
small foreigners — are suprisiiigly keen on this seed in the husk, and 1 may 
safely say that those bird-lovers who grow it once will grow it always. 
(KEY.) G. H. JtlAYNOR. 
