10 Balloh Aviary Notes—iC)i6. 



I found it was a bird's nest. It was a large ball of leaves, 

 creeper stems and grass, with a fairly large opening (probably 

 smaller) at the side, rather under tlie rough roof, which 

 seemed to be almost a thatching, and was composed of 

 largisli green leaves. This was early in August. 



In the aviary pairs are devoted to eai:h other and 

 don't seem happy unless he (or she, but chielly he), sees 

 his mate every minute or two. My old cock practically 

 meated off the 'hen, shewing her what bits of Sthe insect'' food 

 were the best ; for mealworms she wanted no teaching, and it 

 was sometime before the cock would deny himself a )nea?- 

 worm for her. He used to hold the tit -bit in his bill very 

 near the gape, tips of mandibles wide apart, and she'd take 

 it sideways. The [aviary is full of old boxes and cages, and 

 be had a igreat time showing her round. I fancy she took to 

 nesting too soon after troubles of meating oft", and perhaps 

 meating off Unaided by the cock would have been a better 

 one. The other pair seemed well enough and took to food 

 soon, as did the only other one I've had (bar one hen that 

 died with my bird orderly). This one I took home in 191 3, 

 and it wer^i to Mr. Ezra. Nice as single birds., they are 

 undoubtedly iseen at their best in pairs in a roomy aviary ; 

 they should be able to stand winter out of doors at home 

 easily. 



My Breeding Expenences-1916, 



By Mrs. C. A. Longdon. 



I have been asked by the Editor to send an account 

 of my breeding experiences, and though I have told him 

 they are too heartrending to'write h&istill wishes to. have the'm. 

 so I I^Ti complying and hope they may interest some of our 

 mjemberb . 



Pin-tailed PAKKor-FiNCHES {Erythrura p/asina): In 

 June last, I think it was, I bought from Mr. Arnold two 

 beautiful pairs of this exquisite species ;.a week or two after- 

 wards I noticed one of the hens lying dead on the, aviary 

 floor. I Isejil it to Mr. Arnold and he kindly wrote back that 



