270 



but five eggs iu it. I noted the date and once more 

 prepared to watch events.* On July 15th three 3'^oung 

 birds hatched out, and again I watched with feverish 

 anxiety. Tlie nestlings appeared to thrive admirably, 

 and I was full of hope this time. My feelings can be 

 better imagined than described when on about the 

 fifth morning I found one of the youngsters dead. I 

 removed it, and at the same time noticed the others 

 were, or appeared to be, all right. But this time my 

 lucky star must have been in the ascendant, for with 

 remarkable rapidity the birds feathered and actually 

 left the nest on August 2nd. They were strong on the 

 wing from the moment they came out, and appeared to 

 take a delight in their flying exercises. For some 

 time after leaving the nests they were fed by their 

 parents, and I noticed their manner of calling to be 

 fed was almost exactly like the peculiar way of young 

 Zebra Finches. That is, they lay the back of the head 

 almost on the floor with the beak upturned and give 

 themselves the appearance of almost standing on their 

 heads. I have only observed this peculiarity in Zebra 

 Finches, but it maj' also be common with other 

 species. 



In conclusion, a word as to colour. The\^ were of 

 a uniform biscuit fawn, with light shade underneath. 

 The beak was red and the feet deep pink. There was 

 no indication of the spots or the scarlet cheeks of the 

 adult birds. Even now (Nov. 28) the spots are strug- 

 gling through to the surface — it has just that appear- 

 ance — but there is not the slightest indication at 



I caiiuot say when the first egg was laid, but I believe the clutch had 

 only been completed ou the day I found the nest. 



