230 Stray Aviary Notes. 



l^nrpose [siicli hylji-ids are rarely fertile when paired inter se. 

 but mated to either of the parent species fertile eggs are usuallv 

 produced. — Ed.] ? Their nest was of the usual globular typr 

 with entrance hole at the front, and, so far as I observed the male 

 parent took entire charge of the young- as to feeding and 

 protecting them — the Silverbill (African or Indian form? — Ed.), 

 a newly imported bird, died soon after the young made their 

 exit from the nest. The cock Spice Finch died recently wdiile in 

 the moult. An interesting feature has been that the Spice 

 Finch and his family have been inseparable, right up to the 

 tmie of his death — where one went the others alw-ays followed. 



Tlie outstanding" feature of this season in my aviary has 

 been the breeding of the Cutthroats [Aniadina fasciata) — did the 

 inclement weather suit them ? My two pairs fully reared a 

 score of young birds. Some seasons I have not reared a single 

 youngster of this species ! 



The article on the merits of the Shama as a song bird in 

 tliis Journal a few issues back, tilled me with a desire to possess 

 cne, and during' the summer I acquired a newly imported 

 specimen. He is now through the moult and in perfect condi- 

 tion. \viiat satisfactory birds tney are! My bird i-as always 

 been finger-tame with me, and his song a perfect delight; the 

 variety of it, with a wonderful rang'e of notes, make it the 

 most fascinating bird I have ever kept. He will sing under 

 any and all conditions, in day or artificial light, and is at his best 

 with people about him. Shyness or fear he is a stranger to. 



Tn him I have found another favourite bird. 



[Re breeding Bullfinches : P or many years past I have 

 not kept this species, but in the comparatively early days of my 

 avicultural experience I bred them quite freely, but it was only 

 after a number of failures that success was attained. So far 

 as I know very few^ Bullfinches are reared in captivity. Quite 

 a few hybrids have been reared — such have appeared on the 

 .'how bench at various times, fairly regularly too — by crossing 

 with some other species of indigenous finch. linnet, redpoll, etc. 

 T attributed my success with the Bullfinch to unlimited green- 

 food — grasses and other garden weeds, sprays from rose and 

 fruit-trees. I did not supply any live insects, and their quarters 

 nurely a roomy i)acking-case-cage. — W.T.P.] 



