Notes on the Chaffinch.—Referring to Mr. Witchell's interesting notes on Fringilla cœlebs (ante, p. 195), I may state that in my garden aviary—during the love fever especially—my Chaffinches frequently indulge in the full gurgling rattle he speaks of (and so also does the Bramble-finch[1]), but I do not think we can reasonably draw the conclusion that coition occurs in the air. As the result of observation of birds in the fields and captives in my aviary, the only conclusion to be placed on the swooping flights and close contact of the birds he so fully describes, is that of their violent courtship. During this time, in my garden aviary, they are continually chasing one another (that is, male and female) from one end to the other, swooping and circling, and sometimes falling to the ground together; but I have never observed coition to take place, save on the ground and in the branches, when the male bird gives forth the full gurgling rattle aforementioned, as I noticed only two days ago. I quite thought the theory of Chaffinches copulating in the air was exploded long ago, and as the result of my own observations do not consider there is any evidence to support it. Dr. Butler also states this very clearly in the work now publishing, 'British Birds, with their Eggs and Nests.'—W.T. Page (6, Rylett Crescent, Shepherd's Bush).
Rooks feeding on Elvers.—On the 27th of April last, when fishing on the Laune, in Co. Kerry, I observed Rooks flying to the edge of the water, where they pecked at something, and then, proceeding to the bank some two or three yards away, repeated the action, flying away afterwards to a rookery near by. I knew the Elvers or Eel-fry were running, and suspected the Rooks were carrying them off to their young. To ascertain whether this was the case, I crept behind a gorse-bush, and when a Rook flew from the edge of the water and settled near me, I jumped up suddenly, and, frightening it off, I then examined the place it had hurriedly left, and found an Elver wriggling on the grass. This is probably certain proof that they were doing what I suspected.—Wm. T. Crawshay (33, Belgrave Square, S.W.).
Cuckoo Questions.—Following up my remarks on this bird (Cuculus canorus), (Zool. 1897, p. 365), I observed as the young Cuckoo grew that the foster-parents fed it most assiduously; but there is one point on which emphasis may be placed, and that is the nature of the food supplied to the foster-bird. Various species of birds which are called upon to rear Cuckoos enjoy a wide range of food and habits; it therefore falls to Cuckoos to be fed by the different food used by their foster-parents. This in turn raises
- ↑ Last year the Bramble-finch was paired with a hen Canary—of his own choosing, for they were mixed up with others, Chaffs, &c.—and after coition indulged in the full gurgling rattle similar to the Chaff, but a little stronger. I may say, however, all the eggs were infertile.—W.T.P.
