J-^ reeding Rcsidts lor njJi. 39 



breeding Results for 1921. 



By Capt. Ci. E. Rattigan, F.Z.S. 



Although 1 cajinot claim to have bred any rarities, I am 

 on the whole, very well pleased with the results obtained in my 

 aviaries last season. Practically every i)air of birds in my 

 aviaries contributed something' to the increase of the avian 

 population, except one species, viz: I)ufrksnk's Waxbili.s 

 (Fstrclda diifrcsin). This species failed to get as far as hatching" 

 out young. I am not even sure that the Dufresne's laid, but T 

 Ijclieve they did, as the hen spent longish periods in the nest — 

 a domed structure ImiK in an old i\y stumj), and the cock, who 

 was a frequent visitor, occasionally stayed in the nest for some 

 considerable time. After about a week, however, L.ie 

 Dufresne's were ejected from their home, after a gallant but 

 fruitless resistance, by the ( iolden-breasted VVaxbills. and so 

 ended my hojies of being the first to breed these charming" little 

 birds in captivity. 



A few more attempts at nesting were made, but nothing" 

 came of them. Their last effort in this direction was the attemot 

 to convert a half-finished Red-billed Weaver's nest to their own 

 uses, but this adventure had a tragic sequel. The Weaver, to 

 whom the incomplete nest originally belonged, was by no 

 means pleased to see the new tenants, although he was at this 

 time busily engaged on a new dwelling" in quite another part of 

 t'.ie aviary . Several times it surprised the little Waxbills, busily 

 engaged on the construction of their new home, and fiercely 

 attacked them. At the same time the poor little fellows, since 

 the affair wicli the (i old-breasts, had incurred the mahgnant 

 hatred of these fierce little pirates, who never ceased to fall 

 furiously u])on them whenever opportunity offered. It was 

 with real sorrow and a hea^'y heart that a few mornings later I 

 picked up both the little Dufresne's lying dead beneath their 

 new home. So far as I could see they were quite uninjured 

 and had not been long dead, for their bodies were still warm; 

 but, though no injury was observable, I strongly suspect the 

 wretched Wea\ cr. a l)l()w from whose bill would probably prove 

 cpiite sufficient to end tlie lives of such frail little creatures. 

 These little Waxbills are, in my opinion, most fascinating" little 



