42



Correspondence



But the home scenes of Britain view,


From Heroics’ Gate to Khambalu

My rhyme o’er rocks and ruins rings.”


If I have got this song right, there would seem to be some reason

for supposing that poets really have the insight they claim ; at any

rate the other instances I have given are curious coincidences. What I

should also like to know is, how many times a curious coincidence

has to happen before it becomes the subject of a legitimate scientific

inference ?


F. Finn.



A WEAVER AND A WHYDAH


Two somewhat dubious Ploceid Finches in eclipse plumage on sale

in the Zoo department of Messrs. Gamage were pointed out to me by

the manager during the latter part of 1930. I decided to have these

sent on for developments, and in the spring of 1931 turned them out

in the garden aviaries. The Weaver proved to be Hyphantornis

mariquensis (see Ibis, 1868, pi. x, by L. Wolf), but the Whydah remained

a mystery by assuming an entirely black plumage and leaden silver

bill. On examination the lesser wing coverts only exhibited greenish

edges. On the assumption of the eclipse plumage the wing pattern

assumed the colours of V. eques (P.Z.S., 1863, pi. xv, by Lenneus),

but the rectrices were not long enough for that bird. It seems I shall

have to wait yet another season to decide whether it is not a form of

Penthetria albonotata, of which species I have had several examples.

Both birds seem only fit companions for H. cucullatus or P. oryx,

and much too offensive when enclosed with the smaller Fire Weaver

group, even capensis. A. Silver.



THE FOOT OF THE CASSOWARY


On page 70, Avicultural Magazine for March, 1931, Mr. Delacour

states that a Cassowary has three toes, the middle one armed with a

sharp claw.



