242 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



on the mainland of Borneo, however, it is a very common species, and 

 immense flocks of them assemble and often clear a paddy-field in a 

 single day ; when feeding they are never still for a moment, and it is 

 very amusing to watch them hanging on the leaves and stalks of the 

 grass in every possible direction. Their nests are built in long grass 

 by the sides of the streams." 



Dr. Russ gives but little information respecting this species, he 

 says that for a long time it was not procurable in the German bird- 

 market, although abundantly in Paris. At length, however, Hagenbeck 

 imported a considerable number, and now they are almost always 

 obtainable in the bird-shops : he continues as follows : 



" In my bird-room, in the course of time, only two broods were 

 obtained from one, and only two young were fledged and these disap- 

 peared, so abruptly into the scrub, that I could give no further account 

 of them. For a nest, each time, the roomy habitation of a Diamond- 

 bird was utilized, and merely narrowed by grass-stalks dragged inside." 



My own birds built either in a German canary-cage, or in a cigar 

 nest-box, dragging in a quantity of hay, and over-arching the saucer- 

 shaped depression ; but even when the nest was apparently completed, 

 the birds were constantly fussing about, pulling out a straw and poking 

 it in again, and never really settling down to the duty of incubation. 

 In one instance, a pair exchanged partners with the White-headed 

 Mannikin, and all four birds nested in company in the same box ; 

 unfortunately, without result ; nevertheless, these birds are at times so 

 ridiculously cheap, that it is really hardly worth while to attempt to 

 breed them. About midsummer, in 1897, I purchased half-a-dozen 

 perfect examples, offered to me at the astounding price of sixpence a 

 head. 



In common with the other species of Mania, these birds live well 

 on white-millet, canary and paddy- rice ; they also delight in spray-millet 

 and grass in the ear : a patch of turf gives them great pleasure. All 

 these Mannikins are inveterate bathers, so that their plumage is almost 

 always perfect ; but they seem to be very careless about keeping their 

 nails trimmed ; thus their long and often twisted claws get caught up 

 in the wire of the aviary, and are liable to keep them dangling until 

 they die, should their owner not be at hand to release them : an aviarist 

 who, after an early visit, locked up his bird-room until his retiirn from 

 business in the evening, would be most liable to losses from this cause ; 

 my own birds have always been quickly released, and their nails 

 promptly cut, whenever they have become entangled in the netting of 

 an aviary. 



