172 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



" It must not be supposed from the foregoing, that the nesting of 

 these two birds, and the rearing of the young, passed over without a 

 hitch. Amidst such unnatural surroundings, the course of events 

 could not be expected to run altogether smoothly, especially as the 

 parents were unseasoned, and the weather treacherous. But the chief 

 difficulty was with the cock who, although he behaved splendidly for 

 a time, behaved badly later on, and had eventually to be ejected from 

 the room to prevent worse mischief a circumstance which greatly 

 upset the hen, who seemed strongly disposed to forsake the nest 

 altogether. 



" These particular birds, while nesting, fed on spray and white 

 millet, and occasionally a little canary seed. Nothing else that I gave 

 them would they touch. They fed their young by regurgitating food 

 from their crops. 



" There was one curious peculiarity, in the inner arrangements of 

 the nest, which I must not pass over in silence. Imagine a pear with 

 two small ends, lying on its side. This was the form of the interior, 

 which was 6J inches, by 4^ inches in greatest measurements, and 

 some 4 or 5 inches deep. Thus was it divided into three fairly 

 distinct compartments, one large, and two smaller ones opposite. 

 Evidently the young birds had lived in the larger chamber, which was 

 scrupulously clean : the other two had been used as retiring rooms. 

 I have examined birds' nests of many kinds, times without number ; 

 my early days were mostly spent in the woods and fields, looking 

 after the birds, but I never before saw anything of the kind : 

 although probably the nest had been pressed into its peculiar shape 

 simply by the weight of its occupants. Owing to its domed con- 

 struction, and the height of the aperture above the heads of the 

 young, it was impossible for the latter to have ejected their excreta 

 outside ; and the parents did not help them after the manner of so 

 many birds. Before the nest was examined, I had often pondered 

 inquiringly upon the state in which I should eventually find .it. As 

 it was, however, owing to the excellent sanitary arrangements of the 

 house, and its general loose and airy construction more suited to a 

 Queensland than to a British climate, the droppings were dry and 

 inodorous ; and the young came out as clean as pinks and as lusty as 

 young Eagles. They were of a dull olive green colour, with horn- 

 coloured beaks, and were fed by their mother until well able to take 

 care of themselves. 



" During the last year or two, the minds of some of us have 

 been disturbed by statements which have been made that the Red, 



