NA TURAL HIS TOR V NOTES AND QUERIES. 59 
house who had an aviary — a very large cage divided into storeys. One side 
looked into a conservatory, while ic stood in the hall, which was a central room 
with others opening out of it. As I sat at the end of a long table in the dining- 
room a tame robin could see me if he came to the corner of the aviary, and there 
he would stand singhig aloud to me as I talked to him. Occasionally he used to 
be let out about these rooms. One day I heard a very sweet but unknown sound ; 
he was by my side on the ground whispering out this sweet song to me. He was 
a young bird of the previous season. 
F. C. Major. 
Breeding the Bulbul. — The following memorable incidents in oviculture 
may interest the readers of Nature Notes. It has been stated in some works on 
foreign birds that no bulbuls have ever bred in captivity in Europe, save once in 
Germany. I am able to mention a second exception to this statement. A few 
years ago I brought three bulbuls (Syrian) from Beyrout ; two of these — one of 
which was exceedingly tame and a rare pet — died. One, a hen, lived on, and 
has become very tame and familiar. I not very long since bought a white-eared 
bulbul, and put it into the same cage; the birds paired, but built no nest, though 
evidently desiring to do so, and the .Syrian hen laid two eggs at the bottom of the 
cage, which were broken. Last summer I set them free in the conservatory, and 
they built a nest high up in a corner formed by the ledge of the window in the 
roof, but this was evidently not to their niind ; only one egg was laid, and the hen 
left it. In a few days they built another nest in a hanging basket containing a 
fern, and two eggs were deposited, on which the hen sat constantly for fourteen 
days, when one young bird was hatched — the other egg was unfertile. It was the 
prettiest thing possible to hear the sweet tones which both she and the male bird 
used when they perched upon the basket, and invited the nestling to eat the food 
they had brought. The young bird thrived for ten days, when on entering the 
conservatory I found it dead, far away from the nest, the male sitting close by ; 
they must have carried it there. They built again in the same place, two eggs 
were laid, two birds were hatched, lived five or six days, and then died. I fear 
the old birds neglected to feed them. This time the dead body of one of the 
young ones was deposited in their old cage. It must have given the parents some 
trouble to convey it there from the nest, which was at some distance. During the 
time of incubation the hen bulbul zealously guarded her nest from intruders, and 
flying at anyone who approached, flapped her wings in their face, and tried to get 
at their eyes with her sharp beak. I need not say what a disappointment it was 
to me that the young birds did not live, so that I might have been the fortunate 
possessor of that rara avis — a young bulbul reared and hatched in England. 
I hope to be more fortunate this year. The birds are healthy and strong, and I 
shall give them every opportunity of building again in the hanging baskets in the 
conservatory. M.ay they lay eggs, hatch them, and fulfil the responsible duties 
of parents more effectually than before ! . 
The Rectory, Cheltenham. CHARLES D. Bell, D.D. 
The Chiff-chaff in Winter. — Is the appearance of the chiff-chaff (Sylvia 
rufa) in winter in the British Isles unusual ? It was seen and heard here at 
(ilenam, near Clonmel, Co. Waterford, on the 29th of January, and occasionally 
since that date. .S. Grurb. 
R. M. W. — We have submitted your specimens to Professor Jeffrey Bell, 
who says they are not in a condition which justifies him in giving an opinion on 
them. 
OFFICIAL NOTICES: WORK OF BRANCHES, &c. 
Our Volumes. — We desire to call the special attention of our readers to the 
volumes of Nature Notes for 1890 and 1891, which may be obtained at the 
offices of the Society, 9, Adam Street, Adelphi, W.C., at the cost of three shillings 
each, or by post, three shillings and fivepence. By the variety and interest of 
their contents these volumes are admirably adapted for the school or parish library, 
and we would urge upon our readers not to neglect so excellent a means for 
advancing the interests which they have at heart. Cases for binding the numbers 
for 1890 and 1891 may be obtained from the Secretary at the above address, price 
