The Endurance of Birds. 10$ 



I lost a hen Bob White last fall, much to my sorrow, as 

 she was very tame, and I was sure she would nest this Spring. 

 Another hen was got immediately, but the cock does not seem 

 to pay the same attention to her as he did to his first mate, 

 though his attitude towards her may improve when the breeding- 

 season comes round. 1 have kept a number of quail of various 

 sorts from time to time and it has always seemed to me that the 

 hens are more difficult to keep in captivity than their mates. I 

 wonder if others have had the same experience, and what the 

 reason can be. My Bob Whites are fed principally on wild 

 seeds winnowed out of thrashed grain, and the female I lost 

 looked well up to the day of her death. 



-<>^"f<>- 



The Endurance of Birds. 



By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., etc. 



(Continued from page jp). 



Sharp-tailed Finch (Uroloncha acnticauda) : This 

 mannikin used to be quite common on the bird market, but of 

 late years has only appeared infrequently. It is quite a 

 handsome mannikin, not showy in colour, but its garment of 

 ruddy and blackish-brown, brown, and white is quite striking, 

 and very prettily contrasted. 



It is a native of India, and is gregarious, feeds principallv 

 upon the ground, and as they occur in large flocks are very 

 destructive in the rice fields. In India the nesting season lasts 

 from June to December. The nest is spherical, constructed of 

 grasses and leaves; it is compact and bulky. It is placed in 

 scrub and small trees, both at high and low elevations. The 

 clutch numbers 5 or 6 white eggs. 



I have found them hardy and enduring, but a shy breeder, 

 though it has been bred on several occasions. 



The treatment required is similar to that already given 

 for Spice and Bengalese finches, which it also resembles in 

 general deportment, characteristics, and habits in the aviary. 



Striated Finch (U. striata) : A closely allied species 



