46 



Several of the Australian finches brought off 

 broods in April and May, but I have not space to say 

 anything about them here, and I have written about 

 tv/o of these species elsewhere. It is sad to relate 

 that the majority of these young finches, although 

 they seemed so vigorous all the summer, died in the 

 moult. Perhaps matters might have gone a little 

 better had I been at home at that time, but I fear the 

 Australians suffer from the same disability as other 

 aviary-bred species — namel}', no constitutions. 



Two pairs of Tree-Sparrows nested in May, and 

 were successful at the second attempt. This bird is 

 generally overlooked or mistaken for the House- 

 Sparrow. As a matter of fact, though quite unlike 

 when seen side by side, they are not easily dis- 

 tinguished at a little distance until one notices the 

 conspicuous round black cheek - patch of the Tree- 

 Sparrow. I have found colonies in various places — 

 one in a thick hedge in an old garden in the Isle of 

 Man, another in a woodstack in Norfolk, and a third 

 in Sand-Martins' holes at Wroxham railway station. 

 The question was recently asked in a certain weekly 

 publication whether Sparrows sang ? I have never 

 heard the House-Sparrow sing, but the Tree-Sparrow 

 has a most peculiar song, composed of Sparrow-like 

 chirps intermingled with loud and clear warbling. I 

 released three of the adults in July, and two of them 

 remained in the neighbourhood and could be seen 

 any morning on the top of the aviary until the middle 

 of February in this year, when they disappeared. 

 This season I am trying to cross the Tree-Sparrow 

 with the House-Sparrow. 



A pair of Sulphury Seedeaters laid and sat several 



