72 Serin ^: Si. Helena Seed-Eater Hybrid. 



LTnfortunnte]}- I lin\r lost the cock frolm lon.n standing liver 

 trouble, so I c;i.nnol hope for brooding luck unless another 

 cock comes m)- way. They are very beautiful and grand 

 birds for a rooni\ aviarv. and are also very hardv. — Ed. I. 



Notes on Breeding Yellow-rumped Serin X St. 

 Helena Seed-Eater Hybrid, 



By Miss E. F. Chawner. 



These birds inated early in the season, rather to my 

 vexation, as at that time I had a true pair of the Serins 

 and hoped to breed thein. However, the hen presently died, 

 so I had to make the best of it and allow' her Tmate toe 

 find consolation where he could. The Seed-Eater built many 

 nests and laid at least four f:-lutches, which were all clear. The 

 next effort was crowned with success, one eg,g, hatched, the 

 others were clear as usual. Both parents were very careful 

 of, and attentive to their nestling; it was reared on live " ants' 

 eggs," green-stuff, and seed from the crops of the old birds. 

 It grew very fast and left the nest ten days after hatching. 

 Unluckily the mother died very soon afterwards, and the young 

 bird had to fend for itself, which fortunately it proved able 

 to do. At that time it was very like a young Greenfinch, but 

 had a dull yellow bar on its forehead. As time went on, it 

 grew 'more like its father except that it had no yellow on 

 the rump. It sang lustily and w^as a fine upstanding bird. 

 After some months yellow patches "began to- show on its Tace 

 and 1 think it would have grown into a very pretty speci- 

 men, bur it developed fits and died ini the beginning of 

 February. I sent the corpses to our esteemed Editor and 

 understand that he has preserved the skin. He states that 

 this cross has not previously been reared in England. 



[The parentage of this hybrid was quite clear; it 

 favoured both its parents, but as soon as we receive the skin 

 from the taxidermist, a description will be published.— Ed. j. 



99 



