66 



BREEDING THE GOLDEN-BREASTED 



WAXBILL. 



Being very niucli in love with the Golden-breasted 

 or Zebra Waxbill, and most desirons of breeding that 

 species in my outdoor aviary, I purchased a pair from a 

 dealer early in May last. Though the birds on their 

 arrival were not in good plumage (being minus their 

 tails) they were certainly healthy, and I was glad to be 

 able to turn them into my sunny aviary, after a few days 

 quarantine only. Here they soon improved in appear- 

 ance, and their lively ways were most interesting. The 

 male bird became a splendid little fellow, and seemed to 

 glory in dancing to his mate with a feather in his beak 

 twice the size of himself! 



Towards the middle of August, I noticed Mr. Waxy 

 was particularly anxious to build in a small shrub grow- 

 ing by the entrance door, and would carry heaps of 

 feathers into a nest of hay I had alread}' put there. 

 There was, however, little or no joy for the birds in select- 

 ing this position, as they were robbed unmercifully by 

 their companions, and I began to think their nesting suc- 

 cessfully with me was out of the question — my Zebra 

 Finches, Bengalese, and other Waxbills having taken 

 possession of all the more suitable nesting boxes. I 

 would not be discouraged, however. In a very snug and 

 sheltered corner of the aviary, I hung up a small wicker 

 cage, with some nice sweet hay and a few white feathers 

 inside. This, to me, seemed an ideal spot, and I hoped 

 my pretty Goldenbreasts would soon inspect the new 

 premises, and decide upon setting up housekeeping 

 immediately. I was not disappointed. The nest was 

 completed, and about Sept. 24th, I noticed the birds 

 were sitting very closely — first one and then the other — 

 and, seeing their anxiety whenever an inquisitive indi- 

 vidual approached, I concluded they had either eggs or 

 young. I was right in my surmises, for on going into 

 the aviary a week later, I found a tiny dead bird on the 

 ground, just underneath their nest. My high hopes, I 



