THR CORDON BLEC. 129 



(until accompanied by fog) if it had been in my bird-room with a 

 temperature not falling below 50 degrees, might have been living at 

 the present time. 



Early in 1893 I purchased two pairs, turning one pair into a 

 breeding-cage with a box in the corner, and the other into my bird- 

 room, the hen of the second pair died within a few weeks, but that 

 in the breeding-cage lived for several months. Both cock birds lived 

 until the Autumn of 1896 ; subsequently I secured a pair, of which 

 the hen died in a month or two, but early in 1897 I purchased a 

 cock and two hens, of which a pair is living as I write. I am, 

 therefore, certain that, with patience and care, hardy individuals of 

 this delicate little Waxbill might gradually be acquired, and strong 

 offspring reared from them. 



The two principal objections to breeding Crimson-eared Waxbills 

 are : the difficulty of getting hold of sufficiently vigorous hen-birds, 

 and the unremunerative nature of the occupation. The female Cordon 

 Bleu is so much more sensitive to atmospheric changes than the male, 

 and so rarely lives, excepting in a decidedly hot and dry temperature, 

 for more than a few weeks; that, in order to select really vigorous 

 specimens to breed with, it would be necessary to purchase your hens 

 by dozens. But, supposing that from a dozen hens, two should be 

 obtained strong enough to pair, sit, and rear four youngsters apiece, 

 what then ? There is the satisfaction of having accomplished a 

 difficult feat ; but the bird-room is no richer : ten hen birds have 

 died and eight young birds have been reared, the fullest value of 

 which, apiece, is half-a-crown. Meanwhile the time and anxiety devoted 

 to the object of rearing Crimson-eared Waxbills, might have been far 

 more profitably given to the multiplication of Gouldian Finches, Cherry, 

 Diamond, Bicheno or Parson Finches ; or, perhaps, more successfully, 

 in the production of some of the interesting mules between common 

 species, which have at times been bred. 



A nearly allied species, Estrilda angolensis, occurs in South-eastern 

 Africa, and (according to Dr. Sharpe) apparently ranges to Mozambique 

 on the east, and to Damara-Land on the west. It differs from E.phanicotis 

 in that the male has no red ear-patch, but resembles the female : 

 according to Mr. Ayres its beak is "lilac, blackish at the tip; tarsi 

 and feet pale ; iris reddish hazel." I believe it has recently been 

 sparingly imported ; and, on account of its close relationship to 

 E, phanicotis, the following account respecting its habits by Messrs. 

 Sharpe and Layard may be of interest : 



" The present species was prociired by Sir Andrew Smith, between 



L 



