on the breeding of the Lesser Saffron finch.



27



the nest at the age of eleven days; again the insecurity of the nest

might have caused a fiasco, for on inspecting the nest, which, by

the way, I had lately propped up, I found it hanging down and

almost inverted. The nestlings, however, appeared to be quite

vigorous and fitted for the outer world, one especially being quite

strong on the wing.


On the evening of this day I placed them both in a deep

wooden box in the shelter, where the male bird could feed them, hut

out of which they were not strong enough to fly; here they spent

the night safely and out of the rain which was driving hard outside,

and on the following morning they were allowed to take their chance.


General colour at 14 days. back, head, and flights, dark

brown, with slight suggestion of olive ; dark huff tips to feathers of

mantles and tertiaries ; throat and chest, yellowish white, with dark

vertical streakings; abdomen, light yellow ; irides and beak, dark

brown ; feet, flesh colour.


As to the food employed, I can only state definitely that the

male used a few mealworms, these he was quite eager about, although

they were never touched before the young were hatched. I believe

he also took hemp, maw, aird green wheat in the ear, beside the

ordinary stock millet and canary seed. Live ants’ eggs and “ soft

food ” were absolutely ignored.


At the age of six weeks, both young birds had lengthened

out and were much the same shape as their father, the streaking on

the breast had practically disappeared, but both still showed a

distinct tendency to yellowness on abdomen and chest. I fear,

therefore, that both are males, and that it will be impossible to

perpetuate what is, in my opinion, a very attractive and inexpensive

hard-bill.


I fancy that one or other of these birds is beginning to “tune

up,” as I have on several occasions heard a song which was vaguely

reminiscent of the old male’s love song.


Both youngsters are now independent and take very little

notice of their father.


I believe this is the first occasion on which this species has

been bred in captivity, which fact must be my excuse for inflicting

on my fellow-members the description of a breeding episode, which



