102 Nesting of the Ruddy Finch. 



had been kept in an outdoor aviary with a heated annexe. I 

 kept this bird out all last autumn and winter in my breeding 

 aviary, which has no shelter, and it has completely resumed 

 not on\y the bright crimson of the superciliary streak Imt the 

 clear rose-colour of the l)reast: it is in fact as richly coloured 

 as any wild specimen. I believe this to be very nearly 

 if not quite, an unique occurrence. It has been generally 

 assumed that an artificial diet is the cause of the loss of this 

 colour after a moult in captivity, but T am inclined to think 

 that it is largely due to too dry an atmosphere. 



Under date 19th April, I have the following jiote: 

 " Mex. Ruddy Pinches very restless: is this their migi'ation 

 period " ? However, they soon settled down in their new 

 quarters, and proved a very steady pair; all the other speci- 

 mens that I have had have been rather wild. 



My next note is as follows: " 15th May. C. Mex. 

 laid one Q^^: large, deep nest in privet, lined with some 

 feathers : eggs bluish-wliite, with l)lack spots : much resembling 

 that of the White-throated Seedeater." 



The sweet and clear notes of the male (which have 

 earned for this species in its own country the popular name 

 of "Californian Linnet ") could be heard in the aviary from 

 early morning till sunset. The song has not much variety 

 but the liquid, piping notes can be heard at considerable 

 distance, and are distinctly musical — in fact, I cannot at this 

 moment call to mind any Carpodaciis, known to me, that 

 sings so *well. 



The hen laid three eggs, but on the 1st June I 

 examined the nest, and found only two, so presumably one 

 had hatched, and the S(iuab had perished. I tested the remaining 

 eggs and found them infertile. 



On the 12th June I found the hen in a badly collapsed 

 condition— in fact only an immediate dose of whisky and two 

 days careful nursing saved her life. However, after laying a 

 soft egg she pulled round, and was turned out on the evening 

 of the 13th, and on the IGth she commenced to sit, in a new 

 nest, on a clutch of three eggs. 



This nest was also destined to failure and on the 5th 

 July I removed two eggs, there being no trace of the third 

 egg, which had possibly hatched, 



