299



So?ne Experiences, of cm Aviculiurist.



one pair of healthy Cordons I bought no fewer than twenty-eight

birds within four months, and then I had a “find.” I saw an

advertisement of one of the dealers announcing “the arrival of

Cordon Bleus in finest condition and health,” and I wrote re¬

questing a true pair to be sent. In due course they arrived and

their appearance gave me the greatest satisfaction ; they were as

tightly-feathered as a Java Sparrow and in the pink of health,

but 1 noticed neither of the two had the crimson crescent check

mark of the cock Cordon and I wrote to the dealer pointing out

that he had sent me two hens. His reply was to the effect that

he was certain one of them was an immature cock, and I accepted

his statement. Within a fortnight these birds had built a nest

and four eggs were deposited. The nest was cleverly concealed

near the ceiling behind a few twigs nailed to the wall, but I was

able to see that one or other of the birds was constantly on the

nest. This went on for about three weeks, until at last I found

myself unable to resist a desire to investigate how matters were

progressing, and I therefore examined the nest without however

touching it; the eggs were there still and, of course, I was then

quite certain that they were clear. On breaking the eggs after¬

wards I found that two or three, I am not sure which, contained

dead young, which at once settled the debateable point as to my

having a true pair, and the coloured illustration accompanying

the article by Mr. Phillipps in Vol. I., No. 4 (New Series) of the

Avicultural Magazine proved to me that I had been in possession

of the comparatively rare Blue-Breasted Waxbill. They never

again attempted to nest, although they lived with me for about

eighteen months, both subsequently dying from some kind of fit,

at least I suspect this to have been the cause as they were plump

and in good feather to the last.


My experience of these birds confirms in one or two

particulars the observations of Mr. Phillipps, in respect of the

difference in size and colouring between the Cordon Bleus and

Blue-Breasts. It must be remembered that, at the time, I did

not know that my birds were not Cordons, and I constantly

remarked how much brighter and bigger they were than others

I had at the same time, but I am ashamed to say that I did not

detect the difference in the colouring of the bills of the two



