My Ai'iarics and Birds. 23 



fully reared quite a few youni; birds, and can now well be called 

 a breedini; pair. The other species have yet to show what they 

 can do in the way of reproducing their kind. With the excep- 

 tion of the Blossom-heads (these are young- birds and not yet 

 fully developed) all the parrakeets are in fine condition and T 

 am hoping for results. 



Tlie .Spot-billed Toucanettes are really delightful birds: 

 ihev calcli a great deal better than 1 can throw, indeed they never 

 miss a reasonable chance! If handing them a grape with a 

 glove or tinger'stall on, or anything unusual they will examine 

 the latter before t.aking the grape; both are in perfect plumage 

 now. though the cock is never so lively as his spouse, and 

 appears to " have a liver." often being dull and " bunchy " for 

 days at a time; perhaps he really has a liver, for he is as fat as 

 he well can be; they like a mealworm, though I seldom give 

 them one, and when I do Mr. Shania will have it out of their 

 beak, if he sees it. before they can toss it up and dispose of it. 

 They will play with a dead mouse and, I believe, have swallowed 

 a small one [my Suljihur-breasted Toucan used to catch mice, as 

 the blood-spattered perches amply demonstrated, and his lack of 

 appetite indicated the same when I went down in early mornings 

 to feed — no uncommon occurrence either. — Ed.]. Drapes and 

 banana are the favourite fruits, tnough they eat a lot of apple 

 pecking it off the solid fruit. I can distinguish no difference 

 in the call of the sexes, but since the cold weather the male 

 has hardlv uttered it. she every day. The call is made with a 

 profound bow and then again with the head right up. and so on 

 alternately, perhaps four or five times. T only hope they will 

 survive till the summer, as thev very often examine nesting 

 blocks. 



Tn the Small species section T have : 



T pair African White-eyes (Zosferops I'irens). 



4 Cordon P>lciis (iistrilda pJioenicnt'is). 



I Ye1lo\v-l)HIc(l Cardinal (Paroaria capitatu) — recent widower. 



T pair Yellow -winged Su,Q-arhirds (Cocrehu c\Hi)'ca ' 



9 Black-bael-ed 7ana"er (Calliste inelavonota). 



The African White-eyes spent last summer in the outdoor 

 nviary. but made no attempt at nesting. 



The Yellow-winged Sugarbirds. which T got from our 

 T^.'h'tnr, are .i '>r,ind pair, the cock is a perfect gem. May thev 

 only survive to go out in May! 



