2 4 S 



ago. Tlie nest was built of hay woven together, with a long narrow tube 

 for entrance and was shaped like a letort. A rather extraordinary feature 

 about their nesting was that the hen had lost a foot before coming into my 

 possession, and was obliged to go about on one foot and a stump. 



Two eggs were laid, of a very pale blue tint, about the same size as 

 those of the common Sparrow; these were duly hatched (time of incubation 

 not known), and the young were duly reared on seed alone. 



The young, so far as I remember, were similar to their mother. 

 [Almost an unique occurrence in this country, and it is unfortunate that the details 

 are not a little more complete, especially as to age and method of the first assuming of 

 adult plumage. — Ed.] 



Masked Grass Finches (Poephila personata) : These birds built a 

 nest in some long grass, on a bank in my wilderness aviary ; the nest was 

 constructed of hay and wild grass stalks woven together and thickly lined 

 with feathers; every time the old birds went to the nest they took a feather 

 with them. The nest was dome shaped. 



How many eggs were laid 1 cannot say, as the entrance hole was so 

 small that it was impossible to see anything inside. Three young, however, 

 left the nest but were only partially feathered and were picked up dead. 



Soon afterwaids the old birds went to nest again, and this time also 

 one left the nest before it was properly fledged and died, so I removed the 

 other young with their parents to a cage in the bird-room, where it was 

 successfully reared. 



The young was a dull brown with black beak. 



Zebra Finches (Teetiiopygia castanotis) : These have done well, up- 

 wards of thirty from three pairs have been fully reared. 



Cutthroats (Ainadina fascmta): This species has proved very 

 prolific; twelve young have been fully reared from two pairs. These birds 

 I have found dangerous in mixed company, throwing out the young of 

 other birds and then occupying the empty nest themselves. 



Bi.ack-hkaded Goui,dian Finch (Poephila gouldii): Have not yet 

 fully reared any young, but a pair have now a nest of young in the wilder- 

 ness aviary apparently doing well, the fiost and cold weather not seeming 

 to affect them in the least. 



Bronzk-wingkd Mannikins {Spennesles cucullata): Have not yet 

 bred, but are now sitting on a clutch of three eggs in a domed nest con- 

 structed in a fir bush. 



Grekn Amaduvadk {Siictospiza fot tuosa): Have not bred thisseason 

 though a nest was built and several eggs were laid a week or two ago, but 

 did not hatch out, as they weie out of doors and the eggs were probably 

 spoiled by frost. 



Grkkn vSinGing Finch (Serinus iclerus): Did not breed till quite 

 recently, they had three young nicely feathered, but the cold of a few weeks 

 ago was too much for them and they succumbed on leaving the nest. 



Chestnut-kkeastkd Finch (Mania castaneithorax) : These nested 

 and two eggs were laid, but they weie stolen, and they have made no further 

 attempt at nesting. 



Goi.ijkn-brkastkd Waxbii.I.S (Sporcegintlius subflavus): This charm- 

 ing and diminutive species nested and hatched out three young, which were 

 fully reared. The nestling plumage being plain huffish brown. 



