9^ k'cc/'iiig and Hrrcdlng the Li old-hrcastccl U'axbill. 



a narrative of " all-l)nt " success, which so interested me that I 

 interpolate it here in cxfoiso, as follows: 



" r)eing ver\' much in love with tlic ( i(jlil-hreastecl or Ze'!)r;L \\';in1i'1i. 

 and most desirous of breedinj^- tliat species in my outdoor aviary. I purchased 

 ■; pair from a dealer early in May last (1900). Though the birds were not 

 ir good plumage (being' minus their ta'ls) they were certainly healthy, and I 

 was g^lad to be al>le to turn them into my sunny aviary, after a few days 

 quarrantine only. Here they soon imijroved in ap])earance. and their lively 

 ways were most interesting. The male bird was a splendid little fellow, 

 and seemed to glorv in dancing to his mate with a feather in his beak twice 

 the size of himself ! 



"Towards the middle of Augu.st (1901) I noticed Mr. Waxy was 

 particularly anxious to breed in a small shrub growing by the entrance door, 

 and would carry heaps of feathers into a nest of hay 1 had already put there. 

 There was, however, little or no joy for the birds in selecting this position, as 

 tliey were robbed unmercifully by their companions, and I began to think 

 their nesting successfully was out of the question — my Zebra Finches. 

 Bengalese, and other waxbills having taken possession of all the more .suitable 

 nesting boxes. I would not be discouraged, however. In a very snug 

 and sheltered corner of the aviary, 1 hung up a small wicker cage, with 

 some nice sweet hay and a few feathers inside. This, to me, seemed an 

 ideal spot, and 1 hoped my pretty Golden-breasts would soon inspect the 

 new premises, and decide upon setting up housekeeping immediately. 1 was 

 not disapjiointed. The nest was completed, and about September J4th I 

 noticed the Ijirds were sitting very closely — first cMie and then the other — and, 

 seeing their anxiety whenever an inquisitive -ndivklual ai)proached. I con- 

 cluded they had either eggs or young. I was right in my surmises, for on 

 going into the aviary a week later, I found a tiny dead bird on the ground, 

 just underneath their nest. My high hopes. I thought, were not to be 

 realised. fjut as time went on I could distinctly hear young birds being 

 fed, and from the noise they made 1 came to the conclusion that there were 

 a^ least five or six. The old birds were capital feeders, ami ate heartib- 

 of spray and white millet, soft food, and grass in the ear. \\'hat I particu- 

 larly observed during the time of rearing was this — the parents were always 

 busy hunting the aviary wires, the turf, and the roof of an outhouse, over 

 which the covered part of the aviary is erected — apparently in search of 

 insect food (gnats, I sujipose): and aphides from the rose trees and sweet 

 I'eas planted against the wires outside 



My anxiety at this time was. 1 confess, very great, and my curiosity 

 to see young (iold-breasts leave their nest, not a l)it less. But for this I 

 had to wait till the mornhig of October Jl^tli, when tf) m\- delight I saw 

 two tiny birds fly from the nest to the ground. They were fully ticdged. 

 IkkI black beaks, and were of a uniform brown, with the exception of the 

 under parts, which were of a lighter colour. Surely these healthy birds, 

 in the pink of condition would be reared ! I never dreamed otherwise. 

 P>ut alas! there came a night when my spirits sank below zero! It was the 

 tirst day of November. The parents were anxious to nest again, and, I 



