The Endurance of Birds. 57 



doors. Thev are delig'htfnl birds in the aviary, full of char- 

 acter, life and vivacity, in evidence most of the day, spending 

 most of their time in lightning- fly-catcher-like flights, but not 

 always returning to the same perch, though very often alighting- 

 very near to the starting-point; on alighting the crest is 

 raised and a wondrous flash of blazing carmine momentarily 

 delights the eye. 



It has not been freely bred in captivity, though other 

 avicudturlists have been more fortunate than myself; still 

 instances of success have not been at all numerous. In the 

 aviaries of Dr. J. Easton Scott- prior to the war. a pair reared 

 one or more broods in two successive seasons, and I saw one 

 of these broods being fed in the nest, and a little later saw the 

 ha])])v familv party feeding and disporting about the aviary. 



At the first opportunity I certainly shall again acquire 

 the species. 



PiNTAiLED Parrot-Finch (Erythnira prasina). This is 

 most commonly known as the Pintailed Nonpareil, and it is 

 certainly one of the most beautiful of imported finches. Rich 

 hues adorn its feathered garment, yet each area of colour is 

 so beautifully softened as it merges into the next, that it 

 luakes a most exquisite whole. It is so well known that a des- 

 cription need not be given — in fact this article is not intended 

 to include such. 



Most aviculturists do not find this a hardy species, but 

 the main difficulty lies in acclimatising tliem. In exposed 

 aviaries and those on clay sub-soil they should certainly be 

 housed indoors during the winter, though their quarters need 

 not necessarily be heated. Our member, Mr. J. L. Grossmith. 

 had some ex(|uisite specimens, which fed largely upon soaked 

 paddy rice, and at the same time had access to the usual seed 

 luctiii pro\-ided for the other birds, but their main diet was the 

 above. 



I do not remember to have seen or heard of any record 

 of the successful breeding of this species, though it has been 

 plentiful and cheap on the market in pre-war times. The 

 mortality has been very heavy among new arrivals, and for some 



