2 Sonic Africa)! Sf^arrows. 



cnly duller. They were queer little objects as they flew about 

 the aviary. When about two months old the youni^" cock began 

 t:o assume the adult plumage, and, when four months old, was 

 practically indistinguishable from its male parent. At this age 

 the two young hens still retained a large amount of white in 

 their wings and tail, Init it was noticeably getting darker. Late 

 n, October another brood were hatched, but, although ♦hev 



/'/;()/,! /).v \V Sliiirc Hciily. I'.Z.S. 

 Cock Cape Sparrow taking a feather to next. 



a|)peared to do well for two or three weeks, I do not think 

 they ever left rue nest, or if they did they must ha\e died soon 

 afterwards, as I ne\er saw any trace of them. Possibly, so 

 kite in the year the insect supply ran a bit short, and as no live 

 or artificial food, excepting bread and milk, was provided, the 

 young ones were inadequately nourished. 



Another hrst success in these aviaries was with the Grey- 

 headed Si)arrow (Passer s7vaiiiso)ii). After two attempts a 

 single voung bird was reared in a coco-nut husk. This Httle one 

 cnlv differed from its i)arents by the absence of the white wing- 

 bar, so noticeable a feature in the adidt birds. It was rather a 



