144 Ryccdin^i^ flic BcngucJla Sl^arrozv. 



intended to confine the two other aviaries more or less to pairs 

 which have now had some months to settle down in. with the 

 hope of breedinj^' more next year. 



Breeding the Benguella Sparrow. 



(Passer zagoensis benguellensis). 



By W. Shore Bailv, F.Z.S. 

 This rarely imported bird is the largest of the Sparrows that 

 L have kept, exceeding in size even that handsome bird the Cape 

 Sparrow (Passer arcuatus). My birds came to me, as I think I 

 have mentioned in a previous article, as Mehali Weavers, but 

 as at the time T had a handsome cock Mehali in my aviaries. I 

 knew that they could not belong to this species. I am indebted 

 ti the authorities at the British Museum fcr naming them 

 pioperly. 



Very early in April they went to nest, using the same 

 box. and in fact the same nest, in which the Cape Sparrows 

 bi ought off a troop of young last year. As it was so early in 

 c ic season I removed the eggs, which were similar to our own 

 Sparrows' eggs, for my own collection. The hen quickly went 

 to nest again, but the eggs proved to be infertile. About this 

 time we had a lot of cold east winds, which affected the fertility 

 of the eggs of most of the birds. After these two failures 

 they took a rest, but went to nest again whilst I was on my 

 hc.liday. for on my return T found two newly hatched young. 

 These did fairly well, the old birds feeding them on any insects I 

 cculd supply, as well as on bread and milk. They were a long 

 time in the nest, probably three weeks, and when they left took 

 shelter in the thick cover, so that T did not get a good view of 

 them. T could see that they did have a good deal of white on 

 the wings and tail. After a few days the old birds ceased to 

 come for insects, and the hen started laying again, so I 

 concluded that the young were dead, but T failed to find their 

 bodies. They were probably taken by a brute of a rat that T 

 found later on in the aviary. Twelve days later, on July 25th. 

 three young Sparrows were hatched. T now began to give 

 the parents gentles as well as mealworms. I fancy that meal- 



