Early Experiences. 155 



Accentors (Hedge Sparrows) : Tliis very attractive but 

 plainly clad species only once reared youn.^- (two) in my aviaries, 

 and it is one of the most pleasin,^- events 1 recall from those 

 early times (thirty-six years ago). In a greenhouse, 12' x 8', 

 which with the roof glass white-washed, and the whole interior 

 'ined with netting and fitted with twiggy branches round its sides 

 and one end; also one or two dead heather and gorse bushes 

 in the corners. In one of the corners, in a dead heather bush, 

 only just above the ground, a typical hedge-sparrow's nest was 

 built and I can, even now. visualise the charming picture of the 

 nest and four beautiful blue eggs, and also recall my delight as I 

 watched them, from the appearance of the first tg^ to the 

 hatching of two callow young and after. They practically had 

 the full menu mentioned in these notes, but these young were 

 mainly reared upon the contents of the sweep-net for the first 

 fourteen days, after which the parents began to give the general 

 provender of the aviary. I have no record as to when they left 

 the nest, but for some days after their exit they did not fly, but 

 skulked under the heather and dusk found them in the nest 

 again. They soon learned to forage for themselves and lived 

 with me for over two years. I forget their ultimate destination, 

 but believe they were given to a youth just starting the hobby 

 of bird-keeping. 



This species of plainly coloured plumage yet possesses a 

 quiet beauty of its own — the perfect harmony of its browns and 

 brown-greys leaves nothing to be desired. 

 (To be Continued). 



^-♦-fO 



Editorial. 



DfU'ES : Mr. W. Shore Baily informs us that he has 

 yoimg of Bronze-wing, Brush Bronze-wing and Masked (Cape) 

 .Doves on the wing; also a hybrid Peaceful x Zebra Dove. 



Diamond Finches, Etc. : Mr. H. Bright informs us that, 

 in spite of many very promising nests, and much activity among 

 the pairs, the only young birds {i.e. linch-like birds) fully reared 

 are l^iamond Finches and Pope Cardinals. The White-eye- 

 browed Song-Sparrows have a very promising nest in one of 

 his aviaries, and a clutch of eggs is being steadily incubated. 

 Cocks of White-throated Song-Sparrows and Juncos, the latter 



