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amiable bird in the aviary, moderately hardy, and, as will be seen

from the following account, apparently a free breeder when it is

given a fair chance. Whether it lias actually bred in this

country or not I do not know. Our Vice-President, Mr. Wiener,

who, by the way, was the first to breed the Parrot Finch in this

country, says :—“ With me the Australian Waxbill never

attempted to build a nest, whilst Dr. Russ managed to see several

broods hatched, but even lie did not succeed in bringing them

up.” Mr. Gedney refers to the breeding of the species in a light

and airy way, but, as he says nothing definite, and makes no

reference to the immature plumage, we feel inclined to think it

likely that he has neither bred this Waxbill himself nor seen

the young bird. Mr. Fillmer, in his little Handbook 011 Waxbills,

which was published in 1897, sa ys •—“ Mr. Gedney speaks of the

Sydney Waxbill as being easily bred, but I am not acquainted

with any English aviculturists who have succeeded in breeding

it.” Under these circumstances it would seem to be my duty to

place on record and give a short account of the successful

rearing of three young Australian Waxbills in my aviary this

summer.


I have nothing of interest to record of my earlier

experiences of this species, but will confine my story to three

specimens which reached my hands on the 12th October, 1901.

On that day Mr. Carrick, just returned from Australia, sent me a

pair, and threw in an odd female. Whether it was the despised

bird whose domestic life is now about to be immortalized in the

pages of our Magazine, or the true pair which were bought and

paid for, I do not know. Many a time in the history of the

world it has been the despised one that has eventually taken the

front place.


The three birds were in good health and plumage when

they arrived, and retained their good condition all through the

winter ; and 011 the 17th of May of this year they were

transferred to my garden avian’.


In the centre of the aviary there is a lime tree. Last year,

instead of cutting the long shoots, I twisted them round and round

and in and out; and in the early spring of this year I continued the

process, thus forming a really good platform some three feet long

by nearly two broad on which the birds might comfortably build

their nests, the shoots of the year rapidly growing up and

forming a beautiful shelter. I have adopted the same course with

other trees and find the result most satisfactory, quite a number

of species adopting these trees for nesting purposes.



