Editorial. 
A Disappointing Episode : In Mr. Hoffmann's Strea- 
tliani aviary, a most disappoiiiling anil rather unusual episode 
has occurred. The aviary was only completed in the late 
spring, and amony others a pair of Gouldiau Finches set up 
housekeeping and in due course young birds were heard call- 
ing for food; then the hen disappeared and a thorough search 
of the aviary, including all unoccupied nest boxes, failed to 
reveal her whereabouts. The cock parent continued to look 
after the young brood and everything appeared to be going 
on well, and judging by the noise made the nest contained 
a lusty brood; then, just when the young birds were ex- 
pected to leave tlie nest, came an unexpected silence. An 
examination of the interior of the nest revealed the decom- 
posed body of the female parent and three young Gouldian 
Finches, quite dead but barely cold — evidently poisoned by 
the decomposing body of their female parent. The young 
were well nourished and developed in every way, their crops 
well filled with food and apparently ready to leave the nest. 
A most severe disappoimment for our member's first season — 
we hope the success of the other pairs will in some measure 
compensate for this annoying failure, the more annoying as 
success was apparently assui'ed. 
Correspondence. 
NESTING NOTES, 1912. 
Sir, — In resiionse to yuur enquiries, tlieru i.s init little t<> I'e- 
i;ort, there have btea many disapp'oiutiug faihu'c.s, init on the whole, 
tiie birds have done fairly well considering the appalling weather 
which has been very much against them. 
The following have been successfully reared: — 
12 Parrot Finches B 'Blue;-brcast«l Wax'bills. 
3 Long-tailed Grassiinches. 3 Cordon Bleus. 
4 Cuban Finches. 1 Bicheno's Finch. 
The Gouldian Finches are feeding young ; I am not very 
hojjel'ul about them, as I have found them very apt to desert their 
young and start nesting again, but 1 am hoping these may be 
leared . 
Cuban and Bicheno's Finches and Blue-brcaste 1 Waxbills are 
all incubating clutches of eggs. 
