Early Eviso^rs 0/ 1913. 215 



more nosts from tho aviary roof. Aftei- ten days, tlio cock 

 lH>gan to feed his progeny with mealworms, the 'heads of 

 which he first bit off. As there were a groat many other 

 liirds in the aviary who also appreciated mealworms, it was 

 impossible to leave a sufficient supply for the Weavers, so 

 I had to arrange to feed them every two or three hours, which 

 T did by throwing the mr'alworms to them' one at a time. It 

 was astonishing how quickly they learnt to snap them up, 

 liofore the other l)ii'(l ; rould got tliom; the cock, especially, 

 often catching th(>m in the air. This system of feeding also 

 had the effect of making the parents exceedingly tame and 

 I think that this always tends to success in rearing. The young 

 birds are considerably larger than their mother, and are about 

 the colour of a grey Singing Finch. If they do well and 

 survive the winter, I hope to be able to report the colour 

 change in due season. The hen is again sitting on two eggs 

 which are due to hatch on July 8th. 



Early Episodes of 1913. 



By Hkrrert Butght. 



At the Editor's reiiuost I am penning tliese notes and 

 trust l^hey may be of some little intere4, to "B.N." readers. 

 r am only a comparatively recent adherent to the fascinating 

 hobby of Foreign Bird Keeping, and at present the Australian 

 Finches are of intense interest to me. 



I have two out-door aviaries, one 33 feet liy 16, the 

 other 35 feet x 18, both are from 8 to feet high (photo 

 reproductions appeared in last Vol. of "B.N."). Tlie smaller 

 aviary has an extra shelter shed, 20 feet x 8, to which the birds 

 have continuous access, this shelter is well lighted, but entirely 

 covered in, except tlie top jiart of one end, which communi- 

 cates with the fliglit. Wo\\\ Tights have plenty of cover, 

 lieing planted with trees and siirubs; the flights are fitted with 

 movable glazed windows for protection during inclement 

 weather, as we get some vei-y severe periods in tliis district 

 (Cressington Park, Livei-pool). The aviaries are largely 

 stocked with Australian Finches, but other groups are repre- 

 sented to some extent. 



Yellow-rumped Finches {Munia flavipri/nma). These 



