THE ST. HELENA SEED-EATER. 31 



had died the previcms year, was making advances to the hen Green 

 Singing Finch, and seemed likely to kill the cock of that species, I 

 captured the former and paired him with a large hen Canary, in a 

 spacious breeding-cage. This he resented, and led the Canary such a 

 life that I changed the hen twice before I could satisfy him ; at last, 

 when I had found a Canary with which he would live without half 

 denuding her of her feathers, she must needs catch a bad cold, ne- 

 cessitating her removal. 



After this failure to breed mules, I captured my pair of Green 

 Singing Finches, restored the St. Helena Seed-eater to his aviary, and 

 hoped to breed 5. icterus : it was no good, the pair lived amicably 

 enough for a year in the breeding-cage, neither attempting to breed 

 nor even singing; so, in 1893, I put them both back with their former 

 enemy. Curiously enough, the tables were now completely turned ; 

 the smaller now attacked the larger bird, and drove it from pillar to 

 post whenever the fit took it ; but, as no harm was likely to ensue in 

 this case, I let well alone unfortunately, as the sequel proved. 



Mr. Ayres writes: "This species is common at Potchefstroom, 

 breeding amongst the hedgerows, and constructing a cup-shaped nest, 

 rather roughly built of twigs, intermingled with hair-like substances as a 

 binding, and lined with cotton and fine wool, with here and there a 

 feather. It begins to lay in September." 



Dr. Russ says: "The nearest ally of the Hartlaub's Seed-eater 

 (Green Singing Finch); it has been confounded with it by many 

 authors." He then points out the difference in size and colouring, and 

 proceeds: "Also differing in disposition, comparatively qviieter, only 

 somewhat excitable in the nesting-season. It is one of the best songsters 

 among the Finches. As soon as the nesting-season approaches, the 

 cock bird begins to feed his hen, about whom, up to that time he had 

 not troubled himself, from the crop ; and, Finch-like, follows it when 

 building in all its actions. Nest formed in a thick bush not high above 

 the earth, as a large open cup, externally of fine bents, internally of 

 fibres, rootlets, and wool, and neatly rounded off with horse-hair. The 

 laying consists of four to five greenish white eggs, zoned with delicate 

 red and brown spots ; sometimes differing. The development resembles 

 that of the Hartlaub's Seed-eater. It nests as well in a cage as when 

 flying freely in the bird-room. Its nearest relatives, even if much 

 smaller, disturb it when sitting. Harmless and peaceable with all other 

 birds. Long-lived." 



In his Fremdliindischcn Sfiibenvogel, Dr. Russ adds : " Although 

 I have only bred it when at liberty in the bird-room, and no further 



