248 



My pair of Orange-cheeked Waxbills brought out three 

 or four young ones, which are all in full plumage. 



Tlie coninion African Waxbills built a nest like a round 

 ball of grass, on the ground, and reared three young ones. 

 It was almost impossible to find the opening in the nest. 



A pair of Golden-breasted Waxbills built in a husk and lined 

 their nest most brilliantly with cock Golden Pheasant's feathers. 

 The little cock and hen sat together on the nest and one or the 

 other I noticed always peeping out. They have reared three 

 young ones and the Aoung cocks' plumage is nearly, if not 

 quite, as bright as the old one's. 



A pair of Red-headed Gouldian Finches built in a box 

 cage hanging to a branch, and hatched two young ones, but, 

 alas ! just as they were beginning to feather, a Parrakeet slipped 

 into the aviary, pulled out both, and killed them. I was 

 bitterly disappointed, but hope for better luck next year. The 

 young ones had a little bright blue bead on each side of their 

 beaks, 



I may mention that these birds are all together in an out- 

 door aviary with T20 others, and were out all last winter. 

 I never give any ^%^ food, only millet (large and small), 

 canary seed, home-made bread (a quarter of a loaf for them to 

 peck at) soaked in cold water, plenty of green food, also oranges 

 and apples, and some sponge cake soaked in cream. The 

 Parrakeets are next door in a division by themselves, and 

 other mischievous birds, such as Weavers, Parsons, Cardinals, 

 Nonpareils, etc., etc., in another division. The onl}' birds 

 I have taken in for the winter are a Green Bulbul, a pair 

 of Scarlet Tanagers, two Cordon Bleus, and the Gouldians. 

 The others have a large lamp lighted in the cottage at 3.30, 

 which burns all night, and in very cold weather a small 

 paraffin stove is lighted, but I have not used it this winter. 

 I hope this account may interest some of your readers. 



N. Iv. F. DUNT.EATH. 



(President of the Foreign Bird Club.) 



SEPTIC FEVER. 

 Sir,— We have all been having an intellectual treat lately 

 from your up-to-date magazine on the above subject. 



Dr, Clarke solved the bird plague mystery some years ago, 

 and now Dr. Creswell, in his " Story of Bird-Death," is con- 

 finning, by his studies, Dr. Clarke's pathological discoveries. 

 Bnt there is one thing still undiscovered that we fanciers sadly 



