"aphrodisiac properties."[1] In Sumatra the scales are valued by the natives for their medicinal qualities.[2] In Borneo, according to Bock, their flesh is highly esteemed by the Chinese.[3] Hornaday, of a body "made a delicious stew, rich, sweet, and well-flavoured, and part of it we roasted. "[4] I could always procure living specimens when living at Province Wellesley in the Malay Peninsula, but never succeeded in keeping them alive in captivity.—Ed.]
AVES.
Sparrow-Canary Hybrid?.—At Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire, last June, a bird was shot from among the Sparrows on a farm, of which the following is a description:—General colour yellowish white, dusky on the head and throat, and with a few dark marks on the back. Tail and tail-coverts exactly like those of a yellow Canary; bill and legs like a Sparrow's for shape and size, but pinky white. It appeared to be one of a brood. One or two other Sparrows seen at the same time were described as being nearly or quite white.—H.J. Charbonnier (Redland, Bristol).
Crested Lark, &c., released in England.—Having recently obtained from India a consignment of the Crested Lark (Galerita cristata), I liberated nine specimens—a few having died—in Kent on Aug. 24th, letting them out from the train at various points. Most of them went off strongly, but they are rather rough in feather, though in good condition of flesh. I much hope that some pairs will survive and breed, as this interesting species certainly ought to be acclimatized with us, instead of persecuted. On the same day I let out, in the Zoological Gardens, a pair of Black-headed Buntings (Emberiza melanocephala), which I had procured from a London dealer. The cock was in perfect condition, and could not be recognised as a caged bird; the hen was moulting rather unkindly, but I thought her more likely to recover if turned out now. This beautiful species particularly deserves to be encouraged, as it is far the finest of the Buntings; any number could be purchased at Bombay in the spring. A few, as is well known, have occurred here. On the last day of July I had released in the Gardens a Rosy Pastor bought in London, which soon vanished. It was perfect in feather, but had a slight malformation of the beak, and two or three
