3H 



"spherical nest, with a hole in front, in a high warm corner of the inner 

 "portion of the aviary, choosing- a gorse bush as the site. A second 

 " attempt by the Java and Silverbill has ended in the death of the latter 

 "only two days ago (viz., Jan. 5th, 1908). The Java is now mingling with 

 "his own kind, whom he had deserted for over a year." 



A very interesting record and I believe the first occasion on 

 which a li)l)rid between tliese two species lias been reared. 

 From the description given it nitist be a handsome bird. I fear 

 however there is little prospect of any result from the dotible 

 cross. Another featnre is the early period of the year (Feb. 1907) 

 the hybrid was hatched. I have come across several experiences 

 of my own and others recently in which yonng have been 

 liatched and reared during this period of the year. This past 

 year for instance I know of more than one case in which the 

 principal breeding results were crowded into February and 

 March. 



INDIAN SUN-BIRDS: This lovely little bird is not .so easy 



to keep as m any 

 other members of 

 the family NEC- 

 TARINIl).^, but 

 by the aid of pure 

 honey and milk sop 

 containing either 

 M e 1 1 i n s' Food or 

 vScott's Emulsion it 

 should not present 

 a n y insuperable 

 difficult}' providing 

 it is secure from 

 draught, combined 

 with plen ty of light 

 and fresh air. Well 

 sweetened stewed 

 fruit will also help 

 to vary its diet; 

 blight}' sj-rays of foliage from some non-poisonous plant should 

 also be supplied and also during the summer freshly gathered 

 flowers for them to extract the nectar therefrom. 



INDIAN SUNBIRD. 



From Cage Birds. 



By courffsy of ihe Publisher. 



