268 



before the lien laid, and it may be that this species 

 subject to egg-binding. I say this because all n 

 other birds were entirely free from this very vexatioi 

 trouble. She laid five eggs and the work of incubatic 

 commenced at once. I noticed that the househo 

 duties were equalh'^ divided between the birds, tl 

 cock alwa5's sitting during the day, and the hen takii 

 the night dut^^ During the whole of the period tb 

 was rigidly observed. Whenever I went to the avia; 

 in the day, the cock was on the nest, and about six 

 seven in the evening the hen always went on. Mo 

 than once I have seen the exchange made, which i 

 minded me somewhat of the "changing guard." 



The first two attempts were abortive, the eg 

 being clear ou both occasions, and I began to desp; 

 of bringing off a brood. It was now near the end 

 July, and the birds again went to nest, and again in 

 fresh place. They never used the same nest twi( 

 but always sought pastures new. I took but lit 

 notice of the event, but about the middle of Augu 

 as they were still sitting, I looked into the nest a 

 discovered three young ones. I was naturally rati 

 excited and proceeded at once to examine them. Tb 

 were perfectly naked and blind, and the skin was o 

 light orange yellow. The beaks, which appeal 

 " gapey," were black lined with white on the ou 

 portion of the mandible, and a white ring also < 

 circled the black spot where the e3'es were. Tl 

 seemed very helpless, much more so than yor 

 Canaries of the same age, and appeared to make 

 effort to raise their heads, when opening their beake 

 be fed. I was very doubtful of rearing them, i 

 consoled myself somewhat, I remember, by the f 



