All rights reserved. September, 1917. 



BIRD NOTES: 



THE 



JOURNAL OF THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB. 



The Breeding of the Blach-tailed Hawfinch. 



Bv W. Shore Baily. 



Last year I sent you an account of the nesting of my 

 Black-tailed Hawfinches (Eophona mcJannra.) This season they 

 have again nested, but although this time a young one actually 

 left the nest, I am still unable to lay a claim to an F.B.C. medal. 

 Early in May the hen hawfinch commenced singing, and I 

 frequently heard her answering a thrush whistling in a 

 neighbouring shrubbery. At this time the cock hawfinch took 

 very little interest in his mate, but towards the end of the month 

 he awoke to his responsibilities and took his part in the frequent 

 birdy concerts. Their song is short and monotonous, and cannot 

 be compared wth that of the nearly allied Japanese species. Early 

 in June the Blacktails were frequently to be seen chasing each 

 other around the aviary. By the end of the month they had 

 completed a neat but rather small nest in a dead tree that was 

 thickly covered with a wild creeper. The position was an 

 admirable one, as it was perfectly sheltered from wind and rain, 

 and I had great hopes that this time I should be successful in 

 rearing some young ones. On the 19th the first egg was laid, 

 followed on the succeeding days by three more. These were of 

 the same type as those of our own Buntings, bluish white, 

 streaked and lined with various shades of brown. The hen alone 

 incubated, and on July 2nd. the first young one was hatched, 

 two more hatching out the next day. I had previously removed 

 one egg for my collection. The incubation period was eleven 

 days. Both parents fed the young ones from the crop, using 

 what insects they could catch and mealworms, which were freely 

 supplied. The little ones were covered with grey down, and as 

 they grew this developed into a large tuft on each side of the* 



