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I mention this as it is only this year that I have 

 noticed how slow Gouldians are in learning to take 

 cover. Even through the beginning of the rains they 

 would roost out in the open, and even now are only 

 just under the verandah at night. They must still get 

 very wet with the driving rain we often get, yet they 

 will spend a great part of the day inside the house, 

 which forms the third part of my new aviaries. 



One pair in the Finch aviary ought to do well 

 this year if they carry on according to promise. When 

 first I inspected their nest (my curiosity has lost me 

 many young I am sure, but I do like knowing what is 

 going on), there were some eggs; the second time 

 there were a lot — so I counted — ten. I was rather 

 disgusted at their play as I thought it; the last time 

 there were seven fat young varying in size, and three 

 eggs. Not so bad ; but, to be Irish, I expect dis- 

 appointments, indeed often ask for them by wanting 

 to know too much. For in.stance I shall look to- 

 morrow to see if those three eggs have hatched and 

 also to note the colour of the mouth beads. My note 

 as to their colour, written at the time of my first young 

 which died, runs : — " Three beads at the corner of the 

 mouth, two bright turquoise blue, one bright yellow ; 

 inside of mouth yellow speckled with large black 

 spots far apart." Also when asked to-night as to 

 their colour my wife immediately answered " bright 

 blue and yellow." Unfortunately I have not noted the 

 colour of the beads in other young. These warts soon 

 get smaller and vanish after the birds leave the nest. 

 I wonder if these beads vary in different individuals ; 

 and, if so, what is the cause. I don't quite seethe use 

 of beads as guides to the parents, but they may come 

 into the scheme, so to speak, as I certainl}' think that 

 the ornamentation in the mouth is a guide to the parent 

 in finding the mouth of the young in the dark nests 

 these birds make. However, this is a matter of 



