Correspondence



269 '



Since the “ Handbook ” was completed twelve years ago such a vast-

amount of matter relating to distribution, migration, breeding habits, and

food has been published both at home and abroad, that the revision made

necessary is a very heavy task involving the rewriting of most of these

sections.


Moreover field characters, habitat, song, and “habits” generally, to

which very -little space was devoted in the original work, will be greatly

expanded, and these new. sections are being undertaken by Mr. B. W. Tucker

(with Mr. Charles Oldham’s kind approbation).


The new work will be very fully illustrated in colour, the aim being to

show all the birds in as far as possible all their plumages. Such a series of

illustrations is not now available to British ornithologists and it is hoped

that this new feature will greatly enhance the usefulness of the work, especially

to observers in the field.


The original “ Practical Handbook ” will be in fact so much a new work

that we consider an alteration of the title to The Handbook of British Birds

justified.


As it is proposed to publish in five volumes at six monthly intervals,

beginning next spring, we shall be glad to have now any notes relating to

the Order Passeres. It would be a convenience if observations concerning

breeding habits or food were sent direct to the Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain at

Bellevue Road, Southborne, and all other notes to me at Gracious Pond Farm,.

Chobham, Surrey.


H. F. WlTHERBY.



NESTING OF LAZULI BUNTINGS


Madam,— Although it is already a tale of failure, I think it may be of

interest to record that my pair of Lazuli Buntings have nested. Three eggs

were laid, and the hen sat very steadily ; the first was hatched on 25th July,

when I think the hen had been sitting for ten days, and the second on the

eleventh or twelfth day. Unfortunately I found one young one lying dead

in the shelter (at the opposite end of the flight to where the nest is) on the

third day after hatching. I had to go away from home and am still away,

but I had a letter saying that the second chick was found dead, also in the

shelter, on the eighth or ninth day after hatching, so it must have lived about

a week. As far as we know, the third egg did not hatch. I wrote to the

maid who is responsible for the birds while I am away, and told her to remove

the third egg carefully if she got the chance, but when she went to do so

she found two eggs, and could not tell which was the old one (if it was still

there), so wisely left them alone, and the hen is now sitting again on three

eggs. I hope to be at home before the next lot hatch (if they do), but fear the

same disappointment. As live ants eggs, etc., were plentifully supplied for

the first family, 1 can think of nothing further to do.


The nest was rather coarsely but neatly woven in an open wire basket,

with a tin roof hung high up at the end of the flight (where we are continually

passing by), and by climbing on a chair one could see plainly into the nest,

which was close to the wire. Needless to say, as soon as the young were =



