The Breddmg of Grcn-hcaded + Cnpe f^parroivs. 11 



In nestliiiu plnniaffo they closely resemble the House 

 Sp.iri'ow. but are smaller. 



The young- in every instance were reared on insectile 

 xjnixture. mealworms, anfl live ants' .e^p:s, thoug-h probably 

 they could be reared entirely on a p^oorl inseetile mixture 

 [animal food looms largely in the diet of nedtjeline: Sparrows 

 in a state of nature. — Ed.]. 



The old birds like all Sjjarrows were devoted parents 

 and watched over their younc: with jealous care, setting furi- 

 ously on and putting to ignominious flight any bird, how- 

 ever large or powerful, that attempted to approach too closely 

 to their nest. 



The nest was a dome-shaped structure of hay, lined 

 with feathers and moss — I have written "lined," but pacJcnd 

 would be the better term, as the quantity of feathers, etc., they 

 managecf to stow away m a comparatively small space was 

 afmost uncanny. They have used a coco-nut husk as a nest 

 receptacle, also a son of miniature dovecote, and also con- 

 structed a nest amVd tfie branches, &ut, wherever praced"tfle 

 pattern was invariably the same. 



The chitch varied from three to four but, only two hatched 

 out on the first occasion, and one at the last. The colour of 

 the eggs is palish green, blotched with large brown and smaller 

 lavender spots and streaks. 



The parent birds continued to feed the young one 

 for about five weeks after it had left the nest, after which 

 period, I caught and caged the young one separately. 



Some Interesting Birds. 



By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S. Illustrated from Life, by 

 H. Wtllford, 



The Rlack-wtnCtED Grackle (GrarvJipica virJavop- 

 tera). As will be seen from Mr. Willford's most successful 

 photograph, this species is a striking and handsome one. It is 

 also a bird of some character, and some specimens, ot any rate, 

 become very tame and absolutely fearless. It is an inhabitant of 

 Java and the Island of Madura, and i-^ about the size of a Starling. 



Dpsrn'pfio?). Adult MaJp : Except for the wind's and tail 

 this tine bird is pure silky white, slightly tinted with pale buff on 



