325 



small hen Canary. She laid several clutches of eggs, but all 

 were infertile, afterwards the Nonpariel was jilted for a vSiskin, 

 but no young hybrids were reared. 



A pair of Red-headed Finches, which I obtained early in 

 October, laid several eggs in various places but they never 

 seemed to be in earnest, and did not attempt to hatch anj' of 

 them. 



The hen of a pair of American Thrushes, (probably 7'urdiis 

 murimis) built a nest on the top of a Hartz Cage, and laid two 

 eggs; but as I never saw the cock take the slightest interest in 

 the proceeding, the eggs were, as I expected, infertile. 1 intend 

 to give an account of these birds shortly. 



It is particularly disappointing to find, after the winter is 

 over, a quantity of odd unpaired birds on hand; misfortunes 

 and accidents seem to occur more frequently in the winter. I 

 need not give more than two typical instances. During one of 

 the ver}' severe frosts in January, 1907, a particularly fine cock 

 Rufous-tail Grassfinch had his feet so badly frozen, that after- 

 wards his toes came off and, as he could not perch, I was obliged 

 to kill him. One morning I found a hen Pileated Finch, which 

 I am almost certain would have nested during the next summer, 

 on the floor of the aviary, scalped and dying ; no doubt a 

 prowling cat was the cause. 



Cats, I am prepared to admit, are very useful animals, so 

 long as they confine their attentions to mice, but I strongl}' 

 object to their sitting on the top of the aviary at night, watch- 

 ing the birds dash wildly from side to side. I have my own 

 method of dealing with them, a method which once employed, 

 distinctly discourages a second visit. 



