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Correspondence



to forage for themselves. Of course, 1 am not aware of the space of

Mr. Jones 5 confinements for the birds, but I have a very large flying

space with a big and small shelter with a birch wall round, which these

Finches seem to fancy very much for their nests. They require from

me no encouragement to pair or breed. I had two cock birds left over

from last year, and I was able to get from De Yon two hens, and these

two pairs have multiplied rather like the common House-sparrow.

It would take me all my time to ring them all as suggested by your

correspondent, besides frightening and disturbing all the other birds.

I must say that I have never found any of my birds having a set-to in

the pairing season or not or over their food. I think this may be because

I have a birch wall separating the two aviaries, although there is a small

flight-hole where they manage to fly through when they so require.

I have innumerable small bushes and virgin bush all over the place,

in fact the aviary is a very wild spot indeed but not over-smothered

in weeds, as the mice, which are a curse, hide in them, and since I always

keep them down. Through all the heavy rain that occurred in July

my Zebra Finches did not seem to care a jot for the weather and they

are always out in the heaviest downfall. The last nest they constructed

was in a very inconvenient place, namely, a seed-hopper.


Evelyn H. Barclay.



THE SOCIETY'S MEDAL


In our Magazine for October, 1931, Dr. Amsler describes the

successful breeding of the Blue Bock-Thrush (Monticola solitaria)

and the Council proposes to award a medal for this. If, however, any

member or reader should know of a previous instance it is requested

that the Secretary be informed at once.



