156 Stray Notes from Lady Du>ilcatli's Aviary. 



have a family of three flying about strongly. They built their 

 nest in a fuchsia bush, very like a wren's. The other two pairs 

 have nests and are, I believe, incubating clutches of eggs. 



The (irey Waxbills have not nested. I bought twelve of 

 these charming, if freely imported, birds, but five have died; I 

 found them lying dead, fat and in perfect plumage — one dropped 

 dead while I was sitting in the aviary yesterday, almost at 

 my feet. 



The other birds have made no attempt to go to nest. 

 Third Division : Here are canaries and a few British 

 finches, doves, etc., as under: 



18 Canaries (Serinus canarhis, dom. var.) 



I pair Bullfinches (Pyrrhula europaea). 



I pair Shore Larks {Otocorys alpestris). 



T Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis). 



I Masked Dove 9 (Oena capensis). 



I pair Palm Doves {Turtur senegalensis). 



I pair Calif ornian Quail {Lophortyx californica). 



I pair Red-headed Finches (Amadina erythroccpliala). 



The canaries were all bred from two pairs I got in the 

 Spring — one pair built a typical, cup-shaped nest in a bush, in 

 the open flight, in February last, and, in spite of inclement 

 weather (cold & wet) the eggs were incubated and the young 

 were successfully reared — they build beautiful nests in the 

 bushes, in every way similar to those of the wild species. There 

 have been some deaths, but eighteen are still living; they do 

 not mind cold, but cannot stand cold and damp; we have had 

 nothing else but mist and fog with rain for the past three 

 weeks, and my yellow cock, which has fed and reared many 

 young ones, died — he was quite well two days ago — from pneu- 

 monia I am sure, and it was very rapid. I have never yet seen 

 a hen canary feed her young ones ; the cocks feed both her 

 and them. 



The Bullfinches have had three nests, but have not reared 

 any young this year. I have had the hen (quite tame) since 

 191 5 — she was taken out of a nest in Hampshire — the cock is a 

 local bird ; he came into the aviary of his own accord and is very 

 tame; they have reared young in past years. 



The Goldfinches have made no attempt to go to nest — they 

 have never bred with me. 



The Calif ornian Quail, which T got from Gamage, have 



