340 



not find Iheiu at all hardy, though I have had my two cock 

 birds iiearU- four years. 



I let my pair of Parrot Finches out into the aviary in April. 

 The}' started to nest at once, building in a small Canarj- 

 travelling cage with the door off. This the cock bird quickly 

 filled with moss, feathers, and unfortunately a small piece of 

 string. It was a lovely nest with a kind of porch over the 

 entrance liole. I never dared examine it closely, as both birds 

 were ver}' shy and wild. After this, one bird was always 

 missing, and I waited anxiousl}', but was horrified on entering 

 the aviary one morning to find the hen bird just dying. Her 

 mate was flying about verv excitedly watching me, tlien he 

 darted into the flight, and I felt I must look into the nest, 

 knowing the eggs should be just about hatching. So it was, 

 they were just hatched. I decided to leave them alone, and 

 see if the male bird would go to them. After making a good 

 meal on egg and biscuit, seed and grass, I saw him enter the 

 nest, and after that I had great hopes, and the chirping got 

 louder and louder. At the end of ten days, I was crossing the 

 lawn, when I heard the cock Parrot Finch give his loud, shrill 

 whistle, which I call the alarm signal. On entering the 

 aviary, I found one young bird hanging from the entrance to 

 the nest, strangled in the piece of string I named. It was 

 dead and such a fine, fat bird. After I took it off (this was at 

 S a.m.) it was noon before the old bird returned to the nest ; 

 I was in despair. However, nothing further happened, ami at 

 the end of a month, three fine birds flew out. I was away 

 from home a month, and on my return found the young birds 

 just coming into colour. I have only one youngster left, for 

 rats found their way into the flight, and took one young bird 

 and a Chinese Ouail. Another Parrot Finch was caught in a 

 trap, set when I was ill and not made secure from the l)irds. I 

 have now had the whole flight concreted, so there will be no 

 fear for the future, and as I have bought two more Parrot 

 P'inches, I hope I shall have better luck this year, 



The Bengalee hen who paired with a Spice bird in 1906 and 

 bred four hybrids, this year mated with a Bengalee cock, (I hav- 

 ing sold the Spice bird). She hatched three young birds, and 



