Suiuc Finches I hcwc kept. 79 



thoug'h on two occasions I have had nests built at an elevation 

 (){ six feet, amid a mass of bindweed), only in one instance have 

 they used an artificial nest site with me — one pair, once only, 

 built in a rush nest-basket — all appeared to be going well with 

 the pair on the plate. I saw three white egg's and was already 

 " cotmting" my chickens," for they are as easy as Silverbills to 

 rear, when I picked up the hen dead — a cold night had intervened 

 and she had been unable to pass her fourth egg, a perfectly 

 shelled one ! 



Mr. J. Cronkshaw, as long ago as 1895, was the first to 

 i"ear this species in this country; a single youngster was fully 

 reared. Since then I have met with complete success on two 

 occasions, six young in all being fully reared, and several other 

 aviculturists have been similarly successful, but, though easy to 

 breed, it certainly is not a prolific species in captivity. 



In 1910, or thereabouts, an odd Cherry Finch and an 

 unmated Masked Grassfinch — I do not remember at the moment 

 of writing which species was the male parent — in Mr. H. L. 

 Sich's aviary, mated and successfully reared one young hybrid, 

 which was described in a back volume of " B.N." 



Food. — But little is required under this heading; where 

 they form part of a mixed collection of foreign finches the 

 general menu provided will meet their need. They are hardbills 

 rure and simple — canary, white millet, and Indian millet seeds, 

 with millet sprays, and green-food will amply meet their simple 

 requirements. When feeding young no special foods are 

 required, as in a garden aviary they will catch midg'es, small 

 flies, etc. ; if kept in a cage a little soft-food should be offered 

 though it is questionable whether they take any. All young- 

 hatched are usually reared; the only obstacle to prolificness is 

 the liability of the hens to chill and consequent egg-binding; 

 yet they cannot be desig^nated a delicate species, for they 

 certainly are not. 



T have dilated at such length upon this old favourite of 

 mine, that the one species must suffice for this instalment. 



(To he continued). 



