293 



this iiioniing (December 3i.st) is perfect, for I have not seen 

 tighter, sleeker or better coloured specimens, not even on the 

 Show bench. They have made no attempt to breed. The one 

 trouble of out-door life for these birds is, that in frosty weather 

 you must thaw their sop at least twice a day. Of the Spervio- 

 philcs I have onU' at the present time, out of doors, males ot 

 Black-headed Lined and P'ire Red Finches, and they aie stand- 

 ing their out-door life well. 



Of Cardinals I have three species, the Green, Pope and 

 Grey. The Greys and Popes have nested, but so far as I am 

 aware no eggs have been laid. The Greens {Gubematrix cris- 

 tata) have nested again and again, in fact have hatched out six 

 broods of three or four each during the year, but have made no 

 attempt to feed after the first three or four days, and it is 

 almost impossible to keep up a supply of insect food, in a 

 mixed series of from eighty to ninety birds. 



The Cow Birds, of which I possess males of the Silky, 

 Ruddy-shouldered, and an unidentified female, most fascinat- 

 ing in a large aviary, though very wild and unsociable in a 

 confined space, are nevertheless marvels of beauty and grace 

 where they have space for flight; but as I have already 

 described the Ruddy-shouldered in last volume of Bird Notes, 

 and our esteemed member, Mr. Millsum, has recently given an 

 account of his partially successful attempt at breeding them, I 

 had better bring this account of my aviary and its inmates to 

 a close ; simply remarking that the Budgerigars and Cockateels 

 have been almost a failure compared with previous years, 

 though their condition has been as fine as it well could be. 

 Rosellas have as yet made no attempt to breed, being at present 

 only about eighteen months old. 



I must not however close without some account of the 

 Taiiagers. My pair of Blue {Tanagra episcopus) have been in 

 very finest condition ever since they were turned out last May, 

 and more or less during the year have been gathering together 

 and carrying about sticks and bents, yet have not so far com- 

 pleted a nest. Their beautj', even the exquisite plate in our 

 last issue does not do full justice to ; the plumage changing from 

 green to blue and blue to green, and also var3-ing in intensity 



