14 The Ncsti)ig of the Algerian Chaffinch. 



T. coelebs, but are rather larger and have a good deal more 

 white on the wings. About the end of March 1 turned the 

 hen, which had greatly improved in condition, into the aviary 

 with the cock, but shortly after this I picked up the latter, dead. 

 As 1 was unable to get another male, for these birds seem to 

 be very rarely imported, I trapped one of our own birds and 

 introduced it to the hen. For a time they took very little 

 notice of each other, but in May I noticed the cock chasing the 

 hen, and singing to her. Shortly afterwards the hen was seen 

 carrying feathers and other nesting materials, and for some 

 weeks she spent a great deal of time in trying to construct a nest. 

 Her efforts were ciuite unsuccessful, as before she could get the 

 foundation properly constructed the whole thing would collapse. 

 This happened time and again, and it was evident that the 

 material available for her was unsuitable. At last I supplied 

 her with some cotton wool, and with this she succeeded in 

 l)uilding quite a neat nest, rather larger than that of the common 

 Chaflfinch, and, of course, quite different in appearance. In 

 this she laid three eggs, somewhat similar in colour and mark- 

 ings to those of our bird. She sat very steadily, but the eggs 

 proved infertile. I removed them in the hope that she would 

 have a second nest, but she made no attempt to do so, so 1 must 

 hope for better luck next year. 



Writing of the Algerian Chaffinch in Birds of Tunisia, 

 Mr. Whittaker says: — 



" Tin's liird never appears to have strayed across the Straits of 

 (iiljraltar, or to liave been found in Spain, and the species has every right 

 to be considered as jjecuh'ar to North-west Africa. In its habits generally 

 /•". sf^dilioi^oics resembles our Kuro])ean Chaffinch, and I cannot say that I 

 bave noticed much difference in il.s song, although its notes may, perhaps. 

 be a little harsher, and not so cleai' as those of F. coclebs. To be able to 

 judge properly, however, one should hear individuals of the two species 

 singing together, or one almost immediately after the other. In any case. 

 however, the bright call notes of the Algerian Chaffinch, and its cheery 

 short song, fall as pleasantly on the car in the North African woodlands as 

 does the familiar note of its pAiropean congener at home, and they form no 

 slight contribution to the wealth of bird music to be heard in some of those 

 districts during the spring and early summer months." 



" This Chaffinch thrives well in confinement, and examples of it may 

 often be seen in cages in Tunis and other towns of the Regency. Seeds of 

 various kinds seem to be the principle food of the species, but insects also 



