Frcelfi Tmporied Sprcirs and their Trenimcnt 35 



and in very old specimens is almost orange; back rich 

 chocolate-brown; lower back yellow; fli,e:hts and tail dark 

 brown; two white bars on wing. The female is fawn-brown 

 above, and greyish-white below. A fine coloured plate appeared 

 in Bird Notes, Vol. 3. Some indiduals of this species are credited 

 with a murderous disposition, but those I have possessed have been 

 quite harmless, even yoing out of their way to avoid trouble. Their 

 greatest fault is that they Avaste a tremendous lot of seed, and 

 soft food, throAving it right and left with their beaks. An 

 ordinary seed hopper hanging on the aviary wall will l)e emptied 

 of its contents in 10 minutes, apparently for pure mischief : a 

 deep sided seed tray should be used. 



Food: Canary, white, and Indian millet, Avith a few 

 insects and a little soft food. 



The song is a sparrow -like chiri:» and is very monoton- 

 ous, it is however only heard during the breeding season 

 (April to September). After the moult the birds are very 

 shy and are only to be seen occasionally during the winter. 



The nest of this species is externally a rough untidy 

 structure of the usual sparroAV-type. The foundation is made 

 of coarse sticks, the ne-^t itself of hay, warmly lined Avith 

 feathers, and protected outside Avith a large quantity of sticks, 

 pointing in every direction. Any site that will support a nest 

 will suit them. In my aviary nests have been built in bushes, 

 and coco -nut husks, but Hartz cages Avith all fittings removed, 

 were most favoured, and the nesls built in thes(^ had usually a 

 substantial platform of sticks hi front of the entrance. The 

 male chooses the site, and Avitli the exception of a little 

 assistance given Ijy the female with the lining, builds the nest, 

 spending his spare time chirping and flapping his Avings al 

 the entrance. The eggs usually four in number (one nest 

 contained five), are smaller and rounder than those of the 

 House SparroAv, but iii colour they arc very similar, and they 

 A'ary to about the same degree. 



Probably the female alone incubates, but they are such 

 nervous sitters that I only once caught her actually leaving the 

 nest, in fact it comes as a surprise to learn that young have 

 been hatclie 1, for the eggs are apparently neglected and must often 

 be cold. 



