Visits to Memhers' Aviaries. 307 



and they have at the present time three chicks about ready 

 to fly." Left nest September 20th. 



Avadavats: "The cock did not come into colour until 

 the middle of August— there is at present a noisy nestful, about 

 fourteen days old." Four youngsters flew September 25th. 



Common (Grey) Waxbills : " Quite recent arrivals, and 

 have made no attempt at nesting." 



St. Helena Waxbills: "A true pair were brought to 

 me from Cape Town by a friend, who thought he had got 

 hold of something good! They arrived on June 17th; on the 

 18th I turned them out about noon, and by 4 p.m. the same 

 day they had built and completed a large spherical nest in a 

 Syringa bush. I think the pleasure of being amid green 

 foliage, after weeks in a small travelling cage, must be a 

 very strong incentive indeed, to produce such energy — eggs 

 were laid a week later, but the hen must have! diedl as I have 

 not seen her since." 



Painted Finches: Beautiful birds, but somewhat dis- 

 appointing as to nesting results. " The first attempt re- 

 sulted in one or more young chicks, which were fed and heard 

 calling, but disappeared when ten days old. One chick was 

 found just below the nest, its crop was quite full. Here, again, 

 I suspect mice were were the culprits." 



Gouldian Finches: Beautiful as this species is, it is the 

 source of more disappointment to its ardent admirers, than, I 

 think, any other imported species. " This pair were found 

 sitting in a nesting -box on August 29th, but the box unfor- 

 tunately fell off its nail a few days later, and the five eggs, 

 which all contained young birds, were spoilt. Now sitting 

 again in my birdroom." 



Hooded Siskins: Dr. Amsler informs me that he has 

 had these charming birds for two years, but that though ap- 

 parently fit and vigorous the whole period, not a single at- 

 tempt at nesting has been made, though the cock occasionally 

 feeds the hen. The cock is a good songster, and gave me 

 a good taste of his melody as I stood admiring him.^ Mr. H. 

 D. Astley has got as far as j^oung with this species^ but, 

 they were not reared. 



Cuba Finches: Dr. Amsler writes: "I bought the 

 hen of this pair from a dealer two years ago, because she 



