The Endurance of Birds. 157 



soft-food and sip at the milk-sop, which was in their aviary for 

 other species. 



All the above species live toi^ether in amity in a roomy 

 aviary, and all are most desirable and beatitiful inmates of the 

 same. 



Blue-brhasted Waxbill. — This species should be housed 

 indoors for the autumn and winter months, or only given the 

 run of the outer flight on sunny genial days. I should, however, 

 say that many, whose aviaries are in a dry sheltered locality, 

 successfully winter it out of doors. In any case they should be 

 given shelter during abnormal periods, whatever the character 

 of the soil may be. 



This species has not Ijred with me, but our member, Dr. 

 M. Amsler, has bred it rather freely and also successfully 

 crossed it with the Cordon Bleu. Still, it cannot be classed as a 

 prolific species; apparently there is no reason why it should not 

 become so. 



It is an African species. 



Gold-breasted Waxbill. — This wee mite (not so large as 

 " Jenny Wren ") is one of the most beautiful of the waxbill 

 tribe, and also hails from Africa. Once over the hardships of 

 importation it is very hardy and enduring. 



It is not a free breeder, yet several aviarists, including the 

 writer, have had young successfully reared in their aviaries. In 

 my case the solitary instance of success was with a nest built in 

 a tuft of grass, on a slight elevation (about 6in.) on the ground 

 of the flight, beneath the spreading branches of a hazel bush. 

 The growing grass was strongly woven together, with dry grass 

 and almost impervious to rain. It w^as lined with fine grass, 

 a little moss and a few feathers. This episode occurred rather 

 late in the season, and no second nest was attempted. Three 

 fine young birds made their exit from the nest, and the one male 

 among them came into full colour the following season, but was 

 not quite so brilliant as his father, but after the following moult 

 I never saw a richer coloured specimen. While the parents 

 were feeding their babies they captured a good many midges, 

 flies, etc., in the aviary and also secured a goodly portion of the 

 mealworms thrown down for the insectivorous species. 



