2,SG British Birds. 



four eggs in nest, and on May 23rd five eggs. On this date 

 the hen began to sit. May 27th, the hen sat well for four 

 days. She came off to feed several times a day. The cock 

 always feeds her when they are at the food trough together, 

 Ijut hav(>. never seen him feed her on the nest, or ever enter 

 the nest. May 28th, the hen was off the nest a great deal 

 during the day, and both birds seemed very excited. On 

 g'oing to feed them at 2-30, I found a very fine fat mouse 

 seated in the food trough. I spotted the hole into which he 

 bolted and turned the garden hose into it for 10 minutes. 

 I then got a log of wood about 3 feet long, drove a piece 

 of thin iron hooping about 2 feet long into one end, and sus- 

 pended it from the roof of the shelter. On this I fixed the 

 food trough, and it was impossible for the mice to reach it. 

 I then set three traps in the aviary. May 30, no mice 

 caught, and the hen sitting steadily, only coming off the nest 

 at short intervals to feed. 



June 2nd, looked at the nest again, and found the ffve 

 eggs still there. The eggs always seem to lie point downwards. 

 In the afternoon I again saw a large mouse in the aviary. 

 Juno 4th, the cock was flying about with half an egg-shell, 

 which he eventually deposited in a corner of the aviary, and 

 pushed through the wire netting. This proceeding seemed to 

 'greatly interest the Parrot -finches in the next aviary, who 

 flew off with the egg shells in triumph. Feeling certain that 

 they had hatched, I at once supplied them in addition to their 

 ordinary food, with plenty of live ants' eggs, green cater- 

 pillars, small silkworms, and very small gentles. The old 

 birds seemed to enjoy the whole menu except the gentles, 

 which they never touched, but so far as I could see they 

 did not attempt to feed the young. The young at this age 

 no doubt do not require food. The temperature where the 

 nest is, is just on 80 degrees. 



June 5th, both old birds off the nest a great deal, 

 they both fly to the nest, with food, but so far as I can 

 see, it is always ants' eggs. June Gth, I again removed the 

 top of the nest, and found four strong young birds gaping 

 'vigorously. The bright orange inside their beaks showed 

 very plainly. I always looked into the nest when the 'hen 

 ■was oft' feeding. She did not in the least object, and would 



