304 Visits to Mrmhcrs' Aviaries. 



times with the net result of one young bird fully reared. 

 The other young disappeared unaccountably. Three more left 

 nest October 7. 



The Eufous-throated Blue Sugarlvirds and Siklini Sis- 

 kins have made no attempt to nest. 



Black-headed Siskin x Canary: These have nested, and 

 the eggs were fertile, but no young were reared. Dr. Amslor 

 informs me the B. H. Siskin is very pugnacious, a very fine 

 songster, and perfectly hardy, and has been successfully win- 

 tered out of doors — it sings during frosty weather. The birds 

 in this aviary were all the picture of health, apparently very 

 vigorous and full of vivacity — with their brilliant plumage 

 making an entrancing picture as they disported themselves 

 amid the living bushes with which their enclosure Avas 

 glarnished. 



No. 3 Aviary: This aviary has a glass shelter with 

 a flight of 18 X G feet, flllcd with privet, and bay-bushes, etc. 

 It contained the following pairs: 



Black-headed Sugarbirds. Yellow-headed Reed Birds 



Blue Grosbeaks. Chinese-painted Quails. 



Black-cheeked Cardinals (P. nigr'njoiiti). 



Black-headed Sugarbirds: These simply played at nest- 

 ing, the hen sat in a thrush's nest and was fed by the cock, 

 but no serious attempts were made — very beautiful, but also 

 rather quarrelsome. 



Black-cheeked Cardinals: An exquisitely beautiful and 

 uncommon species, and a certain pair, but they have done 

 nothing save " look pretty." 



Blue Grosbeaks: I had better quote Dr. Amsler's terse 

 notes respecting this, another beautiful and by no means 

 common species : " The hen started carrying nesting material 

 " in spring, but when I obtained a mate for her, from Mr. 

 " Teschemaker, she changed her mind and elected to remain a 

 " si:)inster. (Rather shy and retiring birds — quite inofl"ensive.)" 



Yellow-headed Reed Birds: These are a very handsome 

 species belonging to the Starling -tribe. Dr. Amsler considers 

 the hens rather delicate, having lost two, but at the same time 

 he finds them quite indifferent to cold, wintering out of doors 

 quite comfortably. They made no attempt to nest. In Mr. 

 Suggitt's aviary at Cleethorpes a nest was built, but no young 

 were reared. 



