66 Long-iaUed Grassfinchcs. 



ovi of the nest together, but not for long. A large feather in 

 ficnt of the entrance hole prevented any one from looking into 

 the nest, but putting it on one side with a pencil I noted that 

 the young bird was feathering the quills, just bursting at their 

 tips, giving it a streaked greyish appearance. The beak is black 

 with whitish fleshy edges to the back. Tail quite short and a 

 little white shows on the rump. The age of the young bird is 

 13 days to date. 



November iQth : Youngster still lusty, and the parents 

 still stay in the nest some time with it. The feathering of the 

 bird is more even looking and browner in tone, and no quills 

 were observed. 



November 24th : Young Longtail still calls loudly 

 while being fed in the nest and also when old birds are near 

 and in sight. Both parents are often near the nest together, 

 probably trying to induce the youngster to venture out, but 

 F,o far this has been a failure. The old birds have a peculiar 

 habit of extending their black bib feathers and bobbing up and 

 down and uttering a self-satisfied chuckle whenever they come 

 in contact with each other. They spend a lot of time searching 

 the ground, and they still keep the other birds away from the 

 vicinity of the nest by darting rapidly at the intruder. The 

 birds, after bathing, which they do regularly, take rapid flights 

 round the aviary. Weather now cold, but dry. 



November 25th : Morning dry. but rough wind; afternoon 

 showery, rough, and very wet. I give this because it bears 

 upon the result. 



November 26th : Last night was dry, but now again 

 wet and very stormy gales all day. The young bird kept in its 

 nest, and the old birds stay in with it a long time. 



November 27th : A very cold, dull, damp morning with 

 white frost overnight. The young bird flew out of nest this 

 morning, but it was unfortunately dead by i p.m., the exposure 

 and cold, without doubt, killing it. The bird was fully 

 feathered and about the size of a young Zebra Finch ; it was 

 marked as in the parents and similar in colour, but the wdiole 

 general tone was browner, the black and white markings not 

 being so conspicuous. Beak short and black with a whitish 

 tagt and bead at back of gape: tail about ^.^in. long; legs 

 yellowish flesh-colour, 



