212 The Breedinfr of Jackson's Whydahs. 



would have been the case,* as the shield is ivory white in 

 colour, and it should contrast with the black plumage of the 

 head. , 



In the middle of May I turned all three birds into a 



large aviary, the greater part of which was in grass. Here 



they were thoroughly at home, and the cock soon prepared his 



circular playground. On the 2 0th of the month I tioticed that 



he was showing black on his breast; by June 7th his tail was 



grown and he now began displaying on his playground, which 



was from three to four feet in diameter, a tuft of gras::. about 



a foot high being left in the centre, the grass surrounding it 



running from two to three feet high. In this miniature 



amphitheatre he, many times a day, went through the most 



wonderful evolutions. At one time, after circling aroimd the 



central tuft of grass, with wings brushing the ground, and 



with head thrown hack touching the tail he would suddenly 



turn and charge straight at it, the neck feathers forming a 



distinct ruff. At another he would indulge in a series of high 



jumps, his tail spread, and his other feathers very much 



puffed up. These jumps, just about clearing the top of the 



surrounding grass, which, as I have stated, was in places 



about three feet high. He would vary these proceedings by 



short flight? to and from a bear by tree, all the time keeping 



up his apology fo^ a song. The hens meantime look on from 



the shelter of the long grass. After this had been going on 



for a week or twoi I no'.iced one of the hens carrying grass. 



By careful watching 1 was able to locate the nest. This was 



built entirely of grass, the living grass being bent over so 



as to form; a shelter, which was capable of protecting the 



occupants of the nest from all hut the heaviest thunderstornis. 



It wab neatly lined with flowering grasses. Three pear-shaped 



eggs were laid, greenish-white, blotched and sjDotted with 



various shades ol brown and grey. One I removed for my 



collection, and the other two hatched after an incubation period 



of twelve days. The young when newly born were naked and 



flesh coloured. They 'were fed upon grass seeds, miik-t, and 



canary. No live lotr artificial foods were provided. I am in- 



*The nuptial plumage is fuller and extends somewhat over the shield.— Ep. 



