Thk Ortolan Btntixg 123 



production with the original, and discover that you are wide of the mark : there 

 is absolutely no resemblance between the dream and the realit}-. 



About 1891 a pair of Ortolan Buntings was given to me by Mr. P.J. Lowrey ; 

 and, judging (from my experience of Yellow Hammers and Reed Buntings in 

 captivit}') that this species would be equall}' inoffensive, I turned them out into a 

 large covered aviary with English Finches, and many small Ploceine Finches. At 

 first the Ortolans were quiet enough, their feathers being somewhat abraded (owing 

 to the fact that they had been kept in a cage in some small bird-shop) : no sooner 

 however, had these birds moulted and thus recovered their full power of flight, 

 than they occupied themselves for the greater part of each day in chasing the 

 unfortunate Waxbills and lylannikius all over the aviar}'. Apparently, the Ortolans 

 had no vicious intentions in the pursuit of their weaker associates ; they never 

 actually pecked them, when thev had an opportunity of doing so ; but the}' could 

 not resist the pleasure which the frantic terror of the little Finches evidently gave 

 them : the}' darted up and down the aviary almost with the rapidity of a Swallow, 

 whilst the poor little hunted birds, unable to escape by mere speed, were forced 

 to fling themselves against the wirework and double back to avoid their pursuers. 



Seeing that it was impossible to keep Ortolans in an aviary containing 

 Ornamental Finches, I now captured my birds and placed them iu another aviary 

 with Redwings, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, &c., here they suddenly dropped all the 

 active habits which had previously characterized them, becoming as dull and 

 listless as other members of their genus : their health, nevertheless, was always 

 perfect, and their plumage tight and glossy. I parted with this pair at the same 

 time as I sold my Redwings, and subsequently they were made use of for show- 

 purposes. 



In the late autumn of 1894 I selected a male Ortolan from a consignment of 

 Weavers (out of colour) which had just been received from Africa : it had been 

 imported, together with Abyssinian and Russ' Weavers, and with these I kept it 

 in one of my cool aviaries. 



Like its predecessors, this Ortolan, associated as it was with naturally quarrel- 

 some and powerful birds, was singularly quiet and retiring in its demeanour ; indeed 

 it often seemed to weary of the constant wranglings and strong language of the 

 Weavers, and perched quite low down, or even on the earth ; where, from time to 

 time, it uttered its melancholy little monotonous song : although it never had a 

 chance of securing any insect food, all of which was greedily devoured as soon as 

 it was thrown into the aviary by three specimens of a Cape Weaver SiVcrora fS. 

 capensis ? ) it appeared to find all that it needed for its health in the few dried ants' 

 cocoons remaining in a saucer of soft food, which had already been picked over 



