?,]{') Mr. Tlujinor's Ariari/ a1 Hazelrigh Beciory. 



Striated Finches {Vroloncha str'a'a). 



Beiiiralese (Vroloncha domestica). 



Spice Finches (Mimia punctuWa). 



Pla'k-l^exdecl Mannikin-: (Mun'a a*r'c:ip'Ua} . 



Bronze Mannikins (Sp-^rtneste^ cucuVata^. 



Indian Silverbills (Ai'Jemost/ne malaharici). 



Green Singing Finches (S^rinus ictprus). 



Grey Sing'ng Finches (Ser'nus leucopyg'us). 



Eibbon Finches {Amadina jasciata). 



Red-billed Weavers (Quelm qur^ra). 



Eedstnrts (JRu'ifiVa fliocn'oirus). 

 and al^o a hen. 



Paradise Whydah (Sfrgamira jaradisca). 

 A great many ne ;ts have l)e:'n hult by vari^u;^ species, 

 but, so far as I know, only two have reared young succe-JS- 

 fully, viz.: Ribbon Finches, and Zebra Finches. However, I 

 as this is my first season, and most of the species were unknown ' 

 to me before, I have laid myself out rather to study and ^ 

 observe the birds than to induce them to breed, which no 

 doubl, they would do more freely, were they not somewhat | 

 overcrowded. Also, I hope for greater success when I have j 

 eliminated the Ribbon Finches — a pair oi' old birds and their i 

 two young— which I have often seen interfering with the ; 

 nests This was the fault too, of a very fine Cock Madagas- . 

 car Weaver {Foiidin madagascariensis) who, besides being a 

 nest-wrecker, chased all the little birds about till their life was ■ 

 not worth living. I have now transferred him to the Parra- j 

 keets' Aviary, where his behaviour is alogether exemplary. 

 If I were asked to pick out tlie most charming of the 

 smaller birds, I should, I think, put the Gou'.dian Finches , 

 first. They are very tame and even confidential, and the cock, i 

 being of the red-headed 'variety, is the cynosure o': all my 

 visiters' eyes, and is by no means unworthy of his specific ; 

 name mirabilis. Next to them I feel inclined to place the ' 

 the Redstarts, for though they are still rather shy (having 

 been caught as adults in the spring), it is most interesting J 

 to watch them dash down for the mealworms that T throw, i 

 the Cutthroats and Zebra Finches coming ofT quite second best. | 

 Also the zone of the bluish-green colour baneath the black j 

 bib of the cock Redstart glisjtens in the sunshine like a living j 

 gem. Next in favour come the Ruficaudas and the Green Ava- ! 



