Early Experiences 167 



Early Experiences. 



By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S. Etc. 

 (Concluded from page 145). 



Erratum: In the last instalment on page 153. line 12, a 

 few words slipped out of type at the moment of going to press. 

 " S," should read " So freely did they." 



My successes with the Lesser Redpoll (this species 1 also 

 bred in 1915 from birds presented to me by Capt. J. S. Reeve), 

 and Linnets bear so strong a family likeness to those already 

 given that they may be dismissed with this bare mention, save to 

 add that in each case I had only one success after several fail- 

 ures, and that in each instance two young birds were reared to 

 maturity. 



I may also say that with regard to foreign species, a list 

 of my successes has been already given and brief notes concern- 

 ing them have been, or will be, given later when my article 

 " The Endurance of Birds " is resumed, I hope in our Septem- 

 ber issue. 



I only propose to give an account of my success 

 with RiBBOX FiNXHES ( Amadina fasciata) here. I only gave 3/6 

 for my pair of birds, and fortunately they proved not only to 

 be of amiable disposition (not always the case by any means), 

 but also a " breeding pair." so I had no cause to regret my 

 bargain. 



As they were in ciuite a small aviary, which provided 

 accommodation only for about a dozen birds, yet contained over 

 thirty, and, strange to say, I never had a larger percentage of 

 successes, speaking comparatively of the number kept, in any 

 one season than I did in this very much overcrowded and arti- 

 ficially fitted little aviary. 



They were put out. straight from the travelling-cage, in 

 the month of June, and after the customary excitement, which 

 always follows the introduction of new comers, had settled down 

 and I was able to observe them a little I was delighted with my 

 new acquisitions. For a few days they had rather a rough time 

 with the larger of the other inmates of the aviary, notably Java 



