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one pair of Yellow, Budgerigars. I will now give breeding 

 results from the respective pairs in the order named. 



The Rufous Tails were the first to nest. The)' took 

 possession of a basket work nest, sat very steadily on six eggs 

 and brought off six young birds. I make a point of opening the 

 windows of the sleeping quarters before entering them (the 

 windows open from the outside) and it was well I did so, for to 

 my astonishment one day, the whole six flew clean out of the 

 nest to the far end of the aviary ; had the windows been closed I 

 imagine the result would have been disastrous. 



The Black-headed Gouldians made no attempt to nest, and 

 the hen died about a fortnight ago. Post mortem revealed liver 

 disease. The cock bird is fairly happy for a Gouldian and, as a 

 widower, does not seem to mourn the late departed overmuch. 



The Bichenos made a very charming little nest and laid 

 eggs, but soon deserted them. I am sorry to say that both are 

 dead. One escaped unnoticed into the Budgerigars aviary, and I 

 found it on the ground quite dead ; the survivor died three days 

 later and the bod)' is now with Mr. Gray for post mortem. These 

 are very charming little pets and I shall certainly replace them. 



The Long-tailed Grassfinches began to nest soon after the 

 Rufous Tails. They also laid six eggs and brought off six 

 youngsters, all of which left the nest in exactly the same fashion 

 as the Rufous Tails. This brood always returned to the nest to 

 sleep and, when the nest collapsed, the old birds built a fresh 

 nest on top of the old one, in which the youngsters sheltered 

 until the hen laid again (which she did when the first brood was 

 about three weeks old); the old birds then sent the youngsters 

 about their business. This second nest is a huge affair, and the 

 old birds used nearly an armful of dried grass in its construction. 

 It will be of interest perhaps to mention as an instance of extra- 

 ordinary intelligence in this pair, that as they evidently resented a 

 peep I had into the opening of their first nest, they closed 

 the opening up and made another in the thick of the fir branches 

 where it was impossible for me to look in. They have, however, 

 apparently full confidence in me now. and their second nest 

 opens outwards. I saw a nice little lot of upturned beaks a week 

 ago, and I notice to-day (the 27th) the birds are almost fully 



