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I have had eight Zebra Finches from two pairs, all cocks.

They are very beautiful little birds I think, tho’ so common.


My Parson Finches have built one nest after another, all

the summer, in every box, husk, and bush they can see, but have

not laid. Last year they laid on the ground, but did not build.

They are now building again in a box tree—but I fear it is too

late for any results outdoors.


No. 2 aviary is too crowded, I had no breeding results.

The Desert Bullfinches laid five eggs in April, but did not

hatch, and the hen died in June, when I found she was a ball of

fat. I am not sure if my Bleeding-heart Pigeons are a pair.

They agree fairly well, and one sometimes follows the other

about cooing in a deep tone, and bowing till his beak touches

the ground. 1 notice these birds drink without raising the head,

as do also the Gouldians. They keep the beak down in the

water for some seconds, and seem to suck up the water.


In No. 3 aviary, the Californian Partridges laid over

thirty eggs, but are so wild that they did not attempt to sit. I

put some under a Bantam, but, tho’ they all contained chicks,

they did not hatch. Next spring I shall put them in a wire-

covered fruit run, and see if they will be happier. They will

have more shelter and insedt food. Apropos of fruit runs, I had a

Silver hen Pheasant in this run all last summer, and she cleaned

the gooseberry bushes of every caterpillar, and did no harm to

any of the fruit, while she herself had the look of absolute

health.


In August last I purchased a pair of White-headed Love¬

birds, and as the weather was fine turned them out at once. I

was away a month, and on my return could not find the hen any¬

where. After several days watching of every box and corner, I

caught her burrowing under the tub containing a box tree in the

centre of the run ; and once having run her to earth I constantly

saw her carrying small pieces of leaf she had cut out of a large

branch of Eucalpytus, under the tub. She tucked the pieces

under her back and wing feathers, and her feathers became quite

rough by this process. The cock kept watch most vigorously,

and drove away any bird who was daring enough to go anywhere

near. He fed her at the entrance to the hole. After three weeks

of patience I ventured to lift the tub and investigate, only to

find bits of egg shell and one clear egg. The nest was on the

ground, just a slight hollow filled with cuttings of leaf. The

hen went to work again, and laid three eggs, which I left a week,

and then finding them clear, I took them. Is it not unusual for



