222' ^iy Aviaries ami Birds. 



infei-tile; then two more, which duly hatched, and the young 

 hav(f MOW ])cen independent of their parents for some time. 

 There are again young almost due to leave the nest. 



Jacarini Finches {Volatin'a jacarinl). I have two paii':; 

 of this specie;, one in each aviary, and they are easily my 

 favourite 1>irdo, the hen of one pair coming to 'my feet for 

 spiders and other food. One pair hatched two young on May 

 11th, which left the nest on the 21st, but, only lived for six 

 days. June Sth saw two more young hatched, which left the 

 nest on the 20Lh, and are still living, being fed by the cock; 

 the hen began to incubate another clutch of three eggs on 

 the IGth. 



The other pair have had two nests, each containing two 

 eggs, both infertile. This pair have built on the ground on 

 both occasions, whilst the other pair have built in a prive& 

 bush, three feet from the ground. 



Bicheno's Finches {Stictoplera hichcnovi) have nested 

 four times this year, and at the second attempt hatched out one 

 young clii.'k, which d:ei th.e3 days la e ■, but. the fourth attsjupt 

 resulted in two young leaving the nest on June 2Gth; they 

 were and are very strong on the wing. 



June 27th, saw a young Cuban Finch (PJio/npara 

 caiiora) tlying, this being the first young one to be reared, 

 although they have previously hatched out young and on two 

 other occasions have had eggs. 



June 2 7tli, also saw a young Zebra Finch {Taeniopygia 

 castanotls) leave the nest, and the parents ai'c again incubating. 

 Anothe]- pair have eggs. Ruflcauda Finches {Bathilda rnfi- 

 cauda) hatched out about June Itith (one young bird has 

 since floMai, two eggs were infertile), and another i)air haNe 

 eggs. 



Gouldian Finches {Poephila guuldice). Of these I have 

 four pairs, two pairs of Eed-headed in one aviary; and two 

 Red-headed cocks and two Black -headed hens in tiie other 

 aviary. The Red-heads are incubating clutclies ot e^;^-.^, one 

 of which is almost due to hatch. 



Ihadapairof Haye's Partridges (Ammopcrdix hei/ii), but 

 lost the cock, and being unable to obtain another, gave the 

 hen a Californian Quail as a mate. They soon started to make 

 a nest, and the Partridge laid several eggs, but broke all 



