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flowering grass as soon as we could find any. We also give

soaked canary and millet.


We did not pay any very special attention to them for some

time, being much interested in some Long-tails and Gouldians

which were all nesting, but at last I noticed that a hen Ringed

Finch was sitting in a very old rush basket with a hole in the

back, which was hanging on the wire front of the aviary, about

the level of my eye. I could plainly see the hen sitting through

this hole, but foreign birds being shy we scarcely looked at her

at all lest she should desert.


However, one day a Red-headed Gouldian, in a fit of

jealousy, went to a cocoanut husk belonging to a Black-head and

threw out six infant Gouldians, scattering them over the floor.

Someone climbed into the aviary (no easy task as it stands on

four legs), collected the poor mites, and replaced them, and

reported that the Rings were not only hatched but were feathering

well. The Gouldians were thrown out again and died, but we

caught the murderer before he did any more harm, and our

precious Ring Finches escaped his unwelcome attention. Finally,

on May 29, they left the nest. There were three of them, one

rather larger than the others. I11 appearance they were very

much like their parents but much lighter, especially the wings

and tail, and the dark shading at the top of the beak was hardly

noticeable. I11 one important point, however, they were entirely

different. Seen full face they were absolutely ringless, and their

breasts were pure white. In profile, they showed the beginning

of the upper ring which encircled the face. In a few days, there

was a faint indication of the lower ring in the two smaller ones,

but the eldest kept his pure white breast some time longer. They

were very small, but scrambled about vigorously, and managed

to get back to their nest whenever they were tired, and always at

night.


They are now (July 12) about nine weeks old. They

show both rings fairly distinctly, though they are not clearly

defined yet. They seem to be moulting a little, and we imagine

the rings will perfect themselves, and the plumage darken when

the moult is finished. They are very healthy, feed themselves

entirely, and are very fond of green fly which they pick off the

rose and honeysuckle sprays placed in the aviary.


It is interesting to notice the difference between them and

the ordinary Bicheno’s Finch, which has bred with us several

times. We think they leave the nest about the same time, at

three weeks old, but whereas the Ringed Finch emerges ringless



