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On Eggs of Serin-Finches.



EGGS OF SERIN-FINCHES.


By A. G. Butler, Pli.D.


I should like to call attention to the apparent variability

both in the number and colouring of the eggs of the Grey and

Green Singing-finches (S. leucopygius and 5 ". icterus) and to

invite those members with whom these birds have gone to nest,

to give their experiences.


It is a good many years since the Grey Singing-finch first

went to nest in one of my birdroom aviaries, building a neat little

nest on the floor of a Hartz-cage, but dying on the nest before

laying its second egg : since that time no perfect nests have been

built in any of my aviaries until this year. Early in April

several attempts were made by a hen to build in a dead cypress

in my long-covered aviary, but in each case the nest was

destroyed before its completion by Zebra-finches.


In May the indefatigable hen Singing-finch tried to build

in a swinging seed-tin ; and, although nearly the whole of the

material was stolen, so that only a little pad of flue and feather

remained at the bottom of the tin, she laid three eggs thereon,

and sat for about a fortnight; she was, however, extremely

nervous ; leaving the nest whenever the aviary door was

opened : all the eggs proved to be addled.


In June a nest was successfully completed in the dead

bush before mentioned : It is a neat little deep cup-sliaped nest,

resembling that of our Reed-Warbler in shape, but more woolly

and much smaller: again three eggs were laid, the hen sitting,

but still flying nervously off on the least notice being taken

of her.*


In Shelley’s Birds of Africa, Vol. III., p. 217 it is stated

that Heuglin found a nest on the Blue Nile which contained

three eggs which were pale greenish grey, spotted at the thick

end with brownish red and dusky brown.


* After sitting about a week she died and I was on the point of taking the nest to

preserve it and the eggs for my collection when I noticed the cock and a second hen

nervously approaching : on leaving the aviary she went on the eggs. My friend Mr. Seth-

Smith visited me shortly afterwards, and on looking into the nest observed two newly

hatched young : these however disappeared two or three days later, having probably

died.—A.G.B.



