The Endurance of Birds. 39 



no eggs were deposited therein. A second nest was started, 

 and I found the hen dead beneath it, and found the cock similarly 

 about a week later. It was a hot summer, and the cause of 

 death (several bodies were examined) with most of them was 

 cerebral hemorrhage. 



I hope, now peace is practically attained, to obtain more 

 of this pretty species and expect better luck. 



Melba Finch (Pytelia uielha). A beautiful and well 

 known African tinch. but which has only once been bred in 

 captivity, Mr. H. Willford being the successful aviculturist. 



It has fair powers of endurance, but should be wintered 

 indoors ; it has been successfully wintered out of doors, but it 

 is apt to feel sudden weather changes even in summer — an 

 unexpected severe frost and bitter night after a very hot day 

 killed a pair in my aviary in June 1917^ — and any abnormally 

 severe weather coming suddenly would probably be fatal to 

 them. If any attempt be made to winter them out of doors, 

 it would be a wise precaution to shut them up in the shelter 

 each night between October ist and May ist inclusive. 



Parrot Finch (Erythrura psittacca). A beautiful finch, 

 resplendently clad in rich grass-green and red. 



It has never been common on the English market, though 

 quite a few have come to hand at varying periods. It has 

 always commanded a high price. 



While one hesitates to call this a free breeder, yet one or 

 two fortunate aviculturists, who have secured " breeding pairs," 

 have bred them in fair numbers. 



It is not a long-lived species, though there are notabl? 

 exceptions to this rule, and though not delicate, they " shuffle 

 off " when apparently tit and in perfect plumage. 



One difficulty in the way of freely breeding the species is 

 the similarity of the sexes, consequently the difficulty of 

 securing true pairs. Only the wealthy can buy a quantity of 

 these beautiful and costly birds in the hope of true ])airs being 

 among them. 



