216 Early Episodes of 1913. 



fij'stbuiltanest ina Hartz-cage, but, evidently were not pleased 

 with the same, for they deserted it in favour of a rush nesL, 

 which they neatly lined with hay etc., leaving only a very 

 small entrance hole. This hole has now got considerably 

 larger irom "wear and tear," principally during the operation 

 of feeding the young, of which there are several, they have 

 not yet left the nest, but may be both seen and heard. At first 

 they fed the young entirely on grass seeds (llowering grass), 

 and soaked seeds thrown upon the ground, but, recently, since 

 the young have become larger a good deal of hard -seed has 

 been taken. , ' 



Pkctoual Finches {Munia pcctoraiis). The same re- 

 marks apply to this species as to the preceding, save that 

 they are very shy, retiring, and dillicult to observe, but one 

 pair are feeding young. Tlie pair in the other aviary have 

 made no attempt to nest at present. 



Ohestnut-bbbasted Finches {Munia casianeithorax). 

 I have two pairs of this species, quite young birds when I 

 received them, they are just through the moult, and both pairs 

 are a,ttempting to nest — one pair have taken possession of an old 

 nest, altering and adding to it, the other pair are Hying about 

 with nesting material, and are evidently busily constructing a 

 nest. 



Long -TAILED Guassfinches {Focphila acuticauda). I 

 have several pairs of this interesLhig species and all give 

 promise of doing well. Tvvu pairs ai-e busily feeding broods, 

 the young are making a great noise, but have not yet ilown — 

 other pairs are either incubatmg or feeding young. 



Cheury Finches {Aideniosyiie viodesta). This well 

 known species is very uncommon on the English market at 

 the present time. My pair have built a nest, but I do not think 

 they have eggs at time of writing (June 26). 



Diamond Finches (Steganopleura guttata). These have 

 fought amongst each other a good deal and results have not 

 been good. I found three partly hatched young in one nest; 

 this pair have nested again, and may be feeding young this 

 time, as they keep closely to the ne^t. Another pair laid again 

 but the eggs failed to hatch. 



KuFiCAUDA Finches {Bathilda ruficauda). There are 

 two pairs of this species and both are nesting, but I do not 



