12 So)uc Finches I have kept. 



case, for, antagonistic as it is to their known nature there are 

 many pairs that show but Httle inchnation to breed, even though 

 ■given roomy and natural quarters — I know of several excellent 

 aviaries in which it is quite a shy breeder, or does not breed at 

 all, yet time was, when one had only to put a pair into a cag'e 

 and young" followed in due course even easier than with canaries. 

 1 think it is quite time ^^ e put in some observation along" these 

 lines to. seek out the reason. Effect is only too a])parent, but 

 '. for one, do not know the cause. 



My first pairs of this species are a pleasant and interesting 

 memory, knowing, at that time, very little about foreign birds 

 I recognised them as finches and treated them as such. 



For my first few foreigners, some 40 years ago, I stripped 

 a greenhouse (12ft. x 8ft.) of its staging", beat dow'n the earthen 

 floor, put felt over the glass roof and made a wire-netting lobby 

 round tlie door, and afterwards set out for a Midland bird 

 dealer's. So far as I can remember I came back with pairs of 

 Budgerigars. Red-headed I^ovebirds, Zebra Finches, Cut- 

 throats, a Madagascar Weaver in full colour, ditto an Orange 

 Weaver (what wonderful birds I thought those brilliant weavers 

 then, and how^ I fetched all and sundry to look at every nest 

 they wove together — one smiles now, but, nevertheless, happy 

 memories indeed!) and one or two other birds, whose species 

 1 cannot call to mind. But yes, there was a pair of Java Sparrows 

 among" them, one with a black head and neck (dealer said it 

 was the cock), and one with white face patches — well I got these 

 birds home, a full dozen altogether, together with a couple of 

 coco-nut husks. On arrival I took them into the converted 

 greenhouse, hung the travelling cages upon nails, fitted up 

 seed hoppers, scattered some over the floor, filled up a large 

 shallow dish with water, opened the cage doors and locked up 

 for the night. Thus my first pair of Zebra Finches came home 

 and found a place in my bird-room (I actually called it an 

 aviary I ) and heart ! 



In the morning I naturally went first thing to have a look 

 at my new' possessions — all were climbing or flying about the 

 place, and seed hoppers and water vessel offered abundant 

 evidence that they had already fed and bathed, but now after 

 this digression as to how they came to me, this httle yarn only 



