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The Cardinals nested again and hatched three, but failed to rear

them, and, as the parents had begun to moult, we removed the cock. The

hen, however, laid four more eggs which we destroyed, and removed the nest.


She used the same nest all through ; we added a little more hay, and

she put in a few blades of grass. She sings beautifully and is very tame.

Both the parents would beg for mealworms. The young ones—two hens

and a cock—sing well, and are fine birds. BELLE Shepherd.



LINNET IN A DECLINE ; BREEDING GOLDFINCHES.


Sir, —Will you kindly advise me how to treat a Linnet, which is

ailing. It has been in captivity three or four years, the last two in my

aviary; but during the last few weeks it has become very thin, and is

apparently suffering from a bad attack of indigestion. It has been fed on

best Spanish canarv-seed, red rape, and a little hemp occasionally ; with

plenty of groundsel, chickweed, and shepherd’s purse. I cannot get it to

eat egg-food, or soaked biscuits, or the seed contained in thistle and dande¬

lion heads, though I think these would be beneficial.


Yesterday, he w y as so reduced and weak that I gave him five grains of

Epsom salts in his drinking water, and he seems better for it; but he has a

difficulty in cracking seed, and eats very little else but crushed hemp. Can

you suggest any remedy that I can try ? He has fits of great restlessness,

when he seems to be seeking something. I would let him fly, but am afraid

he might not find food, as he has been in captivity so long.


Can you tell me whether it is possible to breed Goldfinches in an

aviary ? I have been told it has been done, and should be very glad of any

advice you can give me on the subject. Emily Brampton.



The following reply was sent to Miss Brampton :


I fear that your Linnet is in a decline ; and, if he will not eat soaked

biscuit, I hardly see how you can save him. Two or three drops daily of

Scott’s Emulsion on biscuit might have done wonders for him.


If this were spring instead of autumn, I should think it quite safe to

let the bird go : I do not think he would find any difficulty about feeding

himself; but, with winter approaching, there would not be much chance

for him.


I have bred Goldfinches in an aviary. They nested in converted

Hartz cages (the pot, trough, and perch removed, the floor made solid with

a piece of cigar-box lid, two of the short bars removed and that end turned

forward for an entrance) hung upon two nails to prevent swinging.


The hen built the first nest, began to lay a day or two later, and began

to sit when four eggs were deposited ; she incubated thirteen days, hatched

and reared three young: but before the latter flew, the cock built a second

nest which she examined and slightly altered. She began to lay the follow¬

ing day—six eggs I think, all of which hatched ; but both this family and a

third (of five) were killed by the young of the first brood.


I supplied egg and biscuit just the same as for Canary-breeding, and

gave plenty of groundsel. A. G. BUTLER.



