Nesting Notes, ipiy 195 



young birds on the wing, the outcome of two nests. 



BiCHENo's Finches (Siictoptcra bichcnovi). There are a 

 few young on the wing, but I am not sure of their number; thev 

 are only just out of the nest and it is hard to find them together. 



Hybrids. A hybrid (reared here last season) Greenfinch 

 X Himalayan Siskin cock, mated to a Greenfinch hen, have 

 nested and fully reared two young hybrids; these are a pair, the 

 hen of which is much the same as an English greenfinch hen, 

 but the cock shows considerably more colour. 



A Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Mitnia castanclthorax) 

 paired with a hen Silverbill ( Aidcmosync cauians) has fully 

 reared four' ,young hybrids — at present they resemble their 

 mother, except for their black beaks. The parent birds are 

 incubating another clutch. 



A Magpie Mannikin ( AmaurcstJics iringlUoidcs) mated 

 with a hen Silverbill have nested, with the result that several 

 young left the nest, but owing to the interposition of wet 

 weather only one bird has been fully reared, but it is a very 

 strong youngster. The old birds are sitting again. 



Diamond Dove (GcopcJia cuncata). There are two 

 young of this exquisite species disporting themselves about the 

 aviary. Later (Aug.24). Two more of this species are on the 

 wing. 



Violet Dove ( Lcptopiila jainaicciisis ). Two young of 

 this species are also on the wing and fending for themselves. 



Talpacoti Dove (Chamacpclia talpacoti). Two more 

 young (first brood still living) are on the wing. 



Cape (Masked) Dove (Ocna capcnsis). One young bird 

 of this species was hatched out, but the parent birds failed to 

 rear it. 



Himalayan Bullfinch (Pyrrhula crythroccphala). These 

 are unsatisfactory nesters, they are so easily disturbed, and 

 though on several occasions during the past two seasons they 

 have caused me to hope that they would successfully rear young. 

 I have been disappointed — they are so easily disturbed. This 

 season they have again built a nest, but allowed themselves to 

 be driven off by two Parson Finches, and so far they have not 

 constructed another nest. Later (Aug. 24). A second nest has 



