300



Mr. Archibald Simpson,



varieties, but I did notice that the male Blue Breast had a larger

area of blue than the cock Cordon, and also that there was a

very marked difference in the extent of the brown underparts of

the hen Blue Breast, the corresponding area in the hen Cordon

being much smaller.


To return to my notes. I have entries showing that out of

sixteen Fire Finches bought within six weeks only one lived

beyond a fortnight, the exception being a bird much deeper in

colouring and with a greater number of white spots on the sides

and was heavier in build than the others, but as I made no actual

measurements I cannot give comparative figures. I kept this

bird over two years and had innumerable mates for him, ail of

which died within a few weeks of my obtaining them. I believe

this bird was a Peter’s Fire Finch from the description and

coloured plate furnished with a later number of the Magazine.

Lavender Finches also gave me trouble: I bought them in dozens

but could not get a single one to live beyond six or eight weeks,

a great disappointment to me as I regarded them with something

akin to affection, in much the same way as I do the timid little

Grey Singing Finch. Speaking of the latter recalls to my mind

the first occasion on which they bred in my indoor aviary. A

pair had a nest and had hatched out one young bird immediately

beneath the squatting place of a pair of Common Avadavats,

who, apparently resenting the propinquity of their neighbours,

raided their demesne and dislodged the nestling on the very

morning of its appearance. I found it on the floor quite cold

and to all appearances dead, but, to my astonishment, the warmth

of my hands revived it, and after repairing the nest, which had

been partly demolished by the combatants, I replaced the young

bird, at the same time destroying the roosting place of the

aggressors, and to my delight the Greys returned to their charge

and successfully reared the youngster. This at least taught me

not readily to abandon hope even when the odds appear against

one. I am never without several examples of this little Finch,

and have probably given more attention to it than to any other

species. I find they are fairly hardy after getting over the

“ importation sickness,” but they are very much disposed to eye

trouble which manifests itself in one or two ways. Sometimes



