154 tlarly Experiences. 



and dry) and unlimited thistle heads. In every case they built 

 their nests in small, canary-tyi)e nest-boxes: the incubation 

 l>eriod varyin.c: from 111014 days. The majority of the young- 

 hatched out were fully reared, most of which were prohtably 

 disposed of. In only one instance did a pair have a second 

 brood, but considering the primitive character of their quarters, 

 mostly overstocked, the marvel is that any were reared. From 

 later experiences I deduce that in most instances two broods 

 would have been reared had I removed the youn,^- as soon as 

 they could fend for themselves. 



BuLLFixciiES : Another beautiful British finch and a 

 general favourite with all bird-lovers. I was very successful 

 in breeding this species, rearing quite a number of them in those 

 early days (over forty years ago), and I attribute that success 

 entirely to keeping them supplied with their natural wild food— - 

 unlimited greenfood, twigs with buds on, fruit, berries, and 

 fresh seed of indigenous wild plants: as when feeding young 

 they partook very sparingly indeed of the usual dry seed Jiioiii. 

 I may state that they eat freely of unripe privet and elder berries, 

 also the unopened flower buds of same. I should also state that 

 all the finches got a handful of stuff from the entomological 

 sweep-net once or twice daily and thus secured many insects. 

 The proportion of fully reared young to those hatched out was 

 less than with the other species: but certainly sixty per cent of 

 thein reached maturity. I am often tempted to renew my 

 acquaintance with British species- especially considering the 

 dearth of foreign species in these war days, but my aviaries were 

 not completed in time this season for me to arrange. 



Siskins : Another British species which rivals many 

 foreign species in beauty of plumage, while for interesting de- 

 meanour and general deportment in the aviary it is second to 

 none. In only two instances did I succeed in rearing young, the 

 last time being in 1886, when two young birds were fully reared: 

 four eggs were laid, one was infertile, and three sisklings were 

 hatched out, one disappearing on the third day. Their menu 

 and general treatment was the same as that given to my gold- 

 finches. I have omitted to state that this species built only in 

 the twiggy branches: except one pair which occupied a canary 

 breeding-cage, but though a nest was built and completed they 

 did not lay. Incubation period thirteen day.s. 



