2i6 The Endurance of Birds. 



Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gyiniiorliis flavicuUis). 

 Cape Sparrow (Passer arcuata). 



* Grey Java Sparrow (Munia oryaivora). 



* White Java Sparrow (M. orysivora z'ar. alba). 



Those marked with an asterisk in above Hst have success- 

 fully reared young in my aviaries. 



The ordinary tincli seed menu will meet the need of this 

 group, but all of them \vill take as many insects as " come their 

 way." When feeding young a considerable amount of the 

 insectile mixture is eaten. If live insects are supplied liberally 

 at this period, the successful rearing of their young is assured. 



Yellow Sparrow. — The male of this species is a beautiful 

 bird, a conspicuous object and an adornment to any aviary. 

 Mr. D. Seth-Smith was the first to breed it in this country, and 

 since then several aviculturists have met with similar success. 

 Mr. R. Suggitt has bred quite a few of them, and young have 

 been successfully reared in my aviaries on several occasions, and 

 in one instance an odd male in my aviary paired off with a hen 

 Tree Sparrow, and two young hybrids were successfully reared. 

 Both in contotu% size and plumage /'. liitciis was dominant in the 

 young hybrids, one of which, a female, lived to reach maturity; 

 it closely resembled the female liiteus, but was a little browner 

 and the yellow areas were smaller and less brilliant. 



If one is successful in obtaining a pair with an inclination 

 to. breed then they are free breeders, but this cannot be said of 

 every pair. 



I have found it hardy and enduring and quite capable of 

 being wintered out of doors. 



Grey-headed Sparrow. — This species, though I have 

 successfully wintered it out of doors on several occasions, I do 

 not consider so robust and enduring as P. lutcus, especially if 

 the autumn and winter prove abnormally wet. Hard frost does 

 not appear to affect them, though their toes may be frost-bitten 

 if they roost out. 



Mr. D. Seth Smith has successfully bred this species, and 

 in my aviary two young birds lived to fend for themselves, but 

 died during the moult, which was late and the autumn very wet 

 and cold, they were hatched rather late in the season. 



