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Correspondence



Then there are the migratory birds, which always seem to me a link with

home. Chief among them are the Swallows, which are now on their home¬

ward journey. By the time they arrive here on their travels south they

have lost their lovely gloss and look exactly as though they had gone rusty.

But before they pass this way again, on their return flight, they have assumed

their breeding plumage once more. During their travels to and fro they

roost in thousands in the reeds at the south end of Lake Nyasa.


J. R. Lee-Booker.



BREEDING OF HYBRID ZOSTEROPS


Madam, —It may interest the members of the Avicultural Society to

know that I have reared a young (or perhaps two) of a New Zealand x New

Hebrides Zosterop. They were in an aviary with odd Mannikins. I had

no idea they had nested till a few days back. I then searched the bush

and found a neat nest rather like a Chaffinch’s with (evidently second lot)

three dirty-white coloured eggs in it, but the fuss the parents made caused

me to search further when I saw one young bird in the bush—Green backed

with whitish green under parts ; eye rings were not noticeable. I also have

three young Sugar-birds (Y.W.) ready to leave the nest in a day or two.


I believe we have had a frost practically every night since eggs were laid !


K. Drake.


PS. —To-day, 4th May, young bird flying strongly.


Its colour is more a greyish green but much lighter underneath;

eye rim distinct, but not the pure white of the adult bird.—K. D.



BREEDING OF THE PHILIPPINE PARROT

(:TANIGNATHUS LUCONENSIS)


“ Last year I was successful in breeding the Philippine Parrot. Of

course, I know I am not eligible to receive a medal from the British Society

for first breeding this species, but I should like to be credited with the

record.


“I was told by the officers of Fish and Game Commission and Bureau

of Science in Manila that there is no record to their knowledge of this bird

ever having been bred in captivity. Only one was hatched and lived but

four months. The old pair are nesting again now (April) and I am hoping

for better results.”


F. Bonestell.


Extract from Mrs. BonestelVs letter to Miss Knobel.


[We sincerely congratulate Mrs. Bonestell on breeding this parrot and wish

her full success with the second brood.— Ed.]



