328



Correspondence



A SUMMARY OF BREEDING RESULTS


We are all familiar with. Dr. Hopkinson’s very valuable breeding

records. His book, Records of Birds Bred in Captivity (Witherby,

326 High. Holborn), has proved of great value to aviculturists, but as

this was published in 1926, many additional records have been made

since. These are being recorded in detail in the series of articles

appearing in our journal, but in addition to this the author has

published a Summary of Breeding Records to Date , which shows at a

glance those species that are known to have been bred, and, in different

type, the more doubtful records.


We note that in the case of the Grey-headed Sheldrake (Casarca

cana) the author has hybrid records only. This was bred in St. James’s

Park in 1930, and by M. Delacour in France in 1932. The Glossy

Ibis was bred at the Zoological Gardens in 1895, and Peale’s Parrot

Finch in 1912.


This useful pamphlet can be obtained from Dr. Hopkinson (Wynstay,

Balcombe, Sussex) if the price (2s. 6 d.) is enclosed and the word

Records added to the address on the envelope, to ensure attention.


D. S-S.


CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


BENGALESE HATCHING PARROT FINCH EGGS


Perhaps the following will interest our members.


I returned from a holiday on 11th July, just in time to see a Blue¬

headed Parrot Finch hen die a few hours after my arrival. The following

•day I saw the cock Parrot Finch fly from a nest in an old hat each

time I passed the aviary, so I decided to examine the nest, where I

found four eggs. These I removed and kept in bran, turning them

daily, if I remembered, until I had a foster hen to sit them. Eleven

•days elapsed before a pair of Bengalese nested. These four eggs were

placed under the Bengalese when she had laid two eggs, afterwards

removing any further eggs laid by her. To my amazement one Parrot

Finch egg hatched out of the four on 4th August. This youngster left



