48 Brccdi)ig the Goldcn-hrcastcd ]VaxbUl. 



will toiicli them, thoui^h the Ctickoo will take them freely. 



1 think myself, that had there l)een a moderate supply c^ 

 mealworms, wasps' i^rnhs. live ants' cocoons, etc.. the yotmi; 

 whvdahs wonld have survived, hasin;^- this opinion, of course, 

 upon the limited data s^iven me. 



1 find I have said nothin,^- as to the metliod of the g'round 

 arraui^ement in this aviar)'. In the centre is a pool some 25 

 feet loni^" by 5 or 6 feet wide, upon which the Ducks disport 

 themselves, with iris and other aquatic plants round the margin. 

 There are several beds containins^' \arious rock and other plants 

 with stone-paved and gravel paths around same and also round 

 the pond, enabling one to move about the aviary freely withoiu 

 tramj^ling on the grass and herbage. Most of the trees are 

 cordon and bush fruit trees (apple, pear, etc. ), which would look 

 charming in the s])ring, but do not supply sufficient cover for the 

 bird. 1 fowever. this defect will not exist in the coming season, 

 as a good number of evergreen bushes, conifers and privet are 

 being planted; and a very successful season should result. 



I regret there is only one photo to illustrate these notes, but 

 T hope the Duchess of Wellington will have photos taken 

 later when the aviaries are in summer dress, and send them 

 with an account of the season's doings for publication in the 

 Club journal. 



<>^-¥0 



Breeding the Golden-Breasted Waxbill. 



By Lucy Dutton. 



Being very much in love with the Golden-breasted or 

 Zebra Waxbill ( Sporaci^inilwis suhfavHs), and most desirous 

 of breeding that species in my aviary, I purchased a pair from 

 a dealer early in May last (1001). Though the birds on arrival 

 were not in good pkmiage (l)eing minus their tails) they wer? 

 certainly healthy- and 1 was glad to be able to turn them into 

 my sunny a\iary. after a few days quarantine only. Here they 

 soon improved in ap]iearance. and their lively ways were most 

 iiUeresting, the male bird being a splendid little fellow, who 

 seemed to glory in dancing to his mate with a feather in his 

 beak twice the size of himself. 



