The Orchard Finch. 91 



Incubation occupied twelve days and on the morning 

 of May 9th. two chicks were in the nest, and a third ap- 

 peared in tlie exeninj; of the same day; all appeared v^ry 

 \igorous, were almost black and profusely covered with 

 leaden- grey down. The young were almost entirely reared 

 upon li\e food— the larvae of a small grey moth, mealworms, 

 and earthworms — which was well chewed, swallowed^ and re- 

 gurgitated. 



Op. May 14th one chick was picked up dead .some 

 yards from the nest, but the other two throve well and left the 

 nest on May 21st. The weather pro\ing unfa\ourable parents 

 and young were remo\'ed indoors on the 22nd. The young 

 birds were then of a pearl-grey colour, with considerable 

 down still showing on the head; dark brown Hights and tail 

 and brown speckling on the breast. On the 25th both could 

 tly short distances, and were now in possession of chestnut 

 ear- patches. On the 30th they were strong on the wing and 

 picking up food for themselves though still fed by their 

 parents, 



At three weeks the general colour of the young birds was 

 as follows ; crown, nape, mantle, back and breast, ashy-grey, 

 speckled with black; beak dark horn colour; leg flesh colour; 

 flights and tail feathers dark brown with buff margins — ^much 

 like their female parent, but with no white or median wing- 

 coverts. 



As early as June 15th, the colouration of the male 

 paren!. began to be manifest in one of the young birds and 

 they ultimately proved to be a pair, but unfortunately on 

 June 2 5th the young female died of pneumonia. 



Nest: This was cup-shaped and neatly constructed of 

 hay and grass externally, and lined with coco-nut fibre and 

 tow. It was placed in a privet bush. 



Eggs: The clutch was three; ground colour grey-blue 

 spotted with stone-grey. 



For his success in breeding this species for the first 

 time in captivity. Dr. Amsier received the club's medal. 



