340



Correspondence



the female, after sitting on the nest a day or two, stopped sitting. Now

comes the part which seems unusual to me : on 30th October I noticed the

penne again sitting on the nest and, on examining it, found three newly-laid

eggs. She is now sitting steadily, having laid three more, making a clutch

of six.


It seems quite unbelievable to me that in so short a time after leaving

her former nesting, she could have managed to lay another and larger clutch,

yet there can be no doubt about it as that is the only pair of Swans (except

a non-breeding pair of Whistling) on that pond, which is thoroughly fenced

in so that no other birds could possibly get inside.


Possibly some of your readers can give me an explanation of what seems

to be a most unusual performance.


C. L. Sibley.



Sunnyfields Farm,

Wallingford,

Conn., U.S.A.



THE SOCIETY’S MEDAL


Mr. Ezra has succeeded in breeding :•—


The Blacksmith Plover,


Reichenow’s Weaver,


Stanley Cranes.


Mrs. Wharton-Tigar has bred :—


The Crowned White-fronted Waxbill.


Messrs. Boosey and Brooksbank have bred :—


The Varied Lorikeet.


Mrs. Drake has bred :—


The Violet-eared Waxbill.


The Society proposes to award a medal in each case for the breeding

of these several species for the first time in the United Kingdom.


If any previous instance should be known to any of our members

or readers, they are requested to communicate at once with the Hon.

Secretary.



NOTE


The Council has decided to pay for approved articles of special interest

to aviculturists that have not previously been published.



Editor.



