IRatuce IRotes : 
Zbe Selborne Societie’s aDagasinc 
No. 1 17. SEPTEMBER, 1899. Vol. X. 
SELBORNIANA. 
Birds of Paradise. — We are glad to hear that Messrs. 
Sotheran now have Dr. Bowdler Sharpe’s monograph of the 
Paradiseidae and Ptilorhynchidae, or Birds of Paradise and 
Bower Birds, which is uniform with Gould’s works, ready for 
delivery. It contains seventy-nine hand-coloured plates, and is 
published at £ 2 ^ 4s. in parts, half bound, or whole 
morocco. The edition is limited to 350 copies. 
The Goldfinch in Danger. — Are we losing the goldfinch? 
An interesting note on this bird in a recent leaflet of the 
Board of Agriculture says it is now comparatively rare in many 
districts. As one reason for this decrease some say that the 
enclosure of commons, heaths,' and other weed-covered areas 
has reduced the number of favourite resorts and feeding places 
of this bird, and that the seeds of weeds, which constitute its 
principal food, have become less easily obtainable on account 
of the improvement of agriculture. Others say that the ruthless 
bird catcher, who snares birds, often in spite of the provisions 
of Acts and Orders, throughout the year, is the real cause of 
this decrease of goldfinches, which are highly prized, both for 
cage birds and for crossing with canaries, on account of their 
fine plumage, their song, and their readiness to become tame 
and to learn tricks, while their peculiar “ call-note ” makes 
them useful to bird catchers as decoy birds. There is also a 
demand for goldfinches by bird stuffers, who arrange them 
under glass cases as ornaments, for which there is a ready sale 
amongst certain classes. Their beautiful feathers are likewise 
largely used for millinery purposes. The preservation of the 
goldfinch is desirable, not only for its beauty, but for its useful- 
ness. As to its beauty, it is described as, without doubt, next 
to the kingfisher, the most beautiful of all British birds, vieing 
