352 British Birds 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



Breeding of Goldfinches 1911. 



(Cardiirli.'i elegans, Slcphens) . 

 By E. Stkankltng. 



jA pail' of (Joldfinclie^ wliich I purchased in the Arilumn 

 of the year 190i), liave this 3^ear nested, and fully reared two 

 fine younj^ 1)ii-ds in a covered aviary about 7 feet 10 inches 

 X 13 feet; the aviary also containing a number of lirceding 

 Canaries. The following year (1910) these same l)irds built 

 two nests in ordinary canary-liox nest receptacles, and laid 

 a clutch of three eggs on each occasion. The first nest being 

 completed in early June, and the first egg deposited on June 

 9th, only one of this chitch (three eggs) was fertile, and this 

 hatched out on June 24th, but the youngster was not fully reared, 

 it died on Ju'y 2nd. The second nest was soon completed, and on 

 July 10th 1 found three eggs in it, these all proved fertile 

 and hatched out on July 22nd, unfortunately the chicks soon 

 died as the parents did not attempt to feed them. This year, 

 however, they have been more successful although only having 

 one nest in which a clutch of four eggs was deposited, the 

 first egg being laid on June 19th and the fourth on June 

 22iid ; ;ill these wore fertile and four youuu birds were hatched on 

 July ath, two of which almost instantly disappeare<l, wliei'e they 

 went " goodness only knows " for I could find no trace of them, 

 the remaining two were fully reared the old birds feeding 

 splendidly. During this period I |gave plenty of flowering and 

 seeding grasses and plants, besides egg food (standard bread 

 and egg), the latter food was really for the young canaries 

 but the Goldies freely heliied tliemselves to this, and it was 

 undoubtedly the principal food upon which their young were 

 reared. On July 20th the young birds flcAv out of the nest, 

 the parents being very excited. 



The date on which I first observed the young Grey- 

 pates feeding I do not appear to have noted, but, Avhen I 

 saw them they were feeding on ripe heads of dandelion and 

 corn marigold, Init the parents fed them for some time after 

 they were fully able to fend for themselves. On August 2ord, 

 when about 7 weeks old I noticed they were moulting, the 

 spotted appearance of their backs and breasts being replaced 



