i8i 



" have been observed build domed nests of dry grass 

 ** in bushes, and lay three or four white eggs." I pro- 

 cured a pair of these birds early this summer, (having 

 only previously possessed two odd males) ; on arrival 

 I found them in rather poor plumage, but apparently 

 healthy. They were put into one of my indoor flights, 

 and in about a month were in fine condition. They at 

 once settled down to nesting and built in a Hartz-cage 

 at the top of the flight, which was well screened with 

 twiggy branches, and were sitting hard, when by an 

 unfortunate oversight on my part through my being 

 called away suddenly, I left a small flap open, and these 

 birds and their companions, (six pairs of uncommon 

 birds), at once found their liberty in the garden ; one 

 pair and two odd birds were recaptured, but unfortu- 

 nately the Auroras were not. 



To my mind Dr. Russ did not exaggerate when he 

 described the Aurora-Astrild as one of the most ex- 

 quisite of the Ornamental Finches. To see it in the 

 aviary, flitting about in the sunlight and making play 

 to its mate, is certainly a sight to be remembered, and 

 I do not wonder at his speaking of it as ravishing ; it 

 certainly cannot be fitly described in a few tame words. 

 As the male bird makes his play, the glancing light 

 bedecks his chaste and lovely garment as with jewels. 

 The love dance itself is both entertaining and interest- 

 ing, as with excited curtseys he hops round the female 

 with his tail spread, and erected almost perpendicu- 

 larly. This continues for some little time, when the 

 female begins to mince on her toes, the male's move- 

 ments become similar, and they thus gradually come 

 together as though drawn magnetically. While the 

 love sport goes on, both birds utter a monotonous but 



