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parents went on feeding as if nothing had happened, and were,

no doubt, very grateful for a change so agreeable and conducive

to their greater comfort.


I am sorry no record was taken as to when the young left

the nest, but on my first discovering they had made their

“ entry,” I took down the box and found one mite afraid to

venture. This one proved to be the delicate one of the family,

and I feared the parents had so much to do attending to the

five “branchers,” that it would be neglected and die. They did

not forget it, however, and three days afterwards it helped to

swell the crowd. Until lately I could readily identify this weak¬

ling from the others. It suffered from diarrhoea, and although

the parents kept it alive, they did not appear so solicitous of its

welfare as they were of the more robust members of their family;

but then it moped, and did not importune them so incessantly as

they. I have frequently witnessed it, while sitting with its head

buried among its feathers, being gently pecked by a parent:

round would come the little head, and as speedily disappear. Off

the parent would pop, as if to say, “ If you do not wish anything

I know five little birds that do.”


The sound emitted by the young, when beseeching to be

fed, is shrill and clear, and can be heard quite a distance away;

distinct from the husky sound of young Gouldians, for example.


The third clutch, numbering three, was discovered and

removed from among the young at the time they were transferred

into the clean nest box.


Towards the end of August the nights became cold, and I

noticed there was something amiss with the hen. Egg-binding

was suspected, and found to be the trouble. After treatment a

shell-less egg was laid. I took the hint, and placed her in a cage

indoors, for good, as I intended at the time; but the weather

took a warm turn, and although I hope she will not go to nest

again this year, I could not resist the wish to see them again a

united family, so let her fly.


My pair has had ample opportunity, during the season, to

indulge in the evil to which the species is said to be addicted,

namely, egg-eating. Eggs broken by accident have been allowed

to remain for days on exposed places in the aviary, without

being disturbed.


When the young leave the nest they resemble in general

appearance the Silverbill, with the exception of that part of the

plumage from which they take their name. The top side of the



