127 



warble, somewhat similar to the Java Sparrow, though more sub- 

 dued ; they have a noisy chirp, and when excited can make a 

 considerable amount of noise, very similar to the common House 

 Spai row {Passer domes ticus). In spite of their small value, and 

 at times the difficulty of disposing of the young, I consider them 

 to be a pleasing and entertaining addition to a mixed series of 

 Finches, Buntings, etc. 



j£Ditorial. 



N ESTING NOTES \ These are not as yet hyany means numerous, 

 but the present settled spell of fine weather should speedily bring about an 

 improvement. Our esteemed member, Mr. E. Perkins, has a nest of young 

 Stanley Parrakeets, strong and healthy, being nearly six weeks old. Mr. 

 Perkins is to be congratulated on his success with this beautiful and still by 

 no means common species, though the enterprise of Messrs. Payne and 

 Wallace has made them much more numerous than they used to be. Our 

 esteemed member, Mr. Pickles, has about thirty young of the ubiquitous 

 Zebra Finch ; while Gouldian, Bicheno and Ruficauda Finches are incu- 

 bating. He also has three young Long-tailed Grassfinches which have 

 now been a month out of the nest; and he records an interesting 

 occurrence in connection with them. While the Lougtails were incubating 

 and also when the young were hatched, they permitted a ? Zebra Finch to 

 go in and out of their nest as she pleased, in fact she was in and out of the 

 nest at frequent intervals each day for the whole period till the young left 

 the nest. At the same time any other intruders were not permitted to 

 approach within a yard of the nest, but were at once chased away. Zebra 

 Finches are notorious for being ready to act as foster parents to any fledg- 

 ling they can annex; and I have noticed, on more than one occasion, that 

 they have appeared to have a share in other birds' nests, the owners of 

 which have been very tolerant of their (Zebra Finches) presence, while 

 strange to say they have been intolerant of the intrusion of other species. 

 At the same time I must say I have never lost a brood that I know of owing 

 to the interference of the Zebra Finch, but other aviculturists have not 

 been so fortunate. Other similar records would be of interest. 



In my own aviary the only case worth recording is the advent of three 

 hybrid Bronze x Magpie Mannikins {Spermesles cucullata—Aniauresthes 

 fringilloides), they do not call for description, as this has been fully done in 

 Vol. V., one of these hybrids being reared in my aviary (it still lives) last 

 season. On the present occasion six ejjgs were laid and fully incubated but 

 only three were fertile, and at time of writing are almost fully fledged. The 

 . accompanying photograph, which is of the one reared in mv aviarv last 



