246 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



out the day, and could only be traced by their monosyllabic whistled 

 call-notes. At the same time, however, they by no means showed 

 themselves to be tempestuously wild. Gradually, I discovered that 

 they zealously carried stuff into the reed and grass-thicket on the 

 stove, yet at all times only nested in a desultory manner. This also 

 took place so secretly, that it invariably was discontinued, if I or any 

 other person was present in the bird-room, and I was only able to 

 observe it if I remained there motionless for a considerable time. At 

 this time, Alexander von Horneyer visited me, whose practised glance 

 at the behaviour of the birds, at once discovered that they were nesting 

 up above there. Some days later I investigated and, indeed, found a 

 nest standing in the belt of reeds, which was formed of coarse nesting 

 materials carelessly thrown together. The foundation consisted of 

 thick grass-stalks, strips of paper, moss, and the like, dragged together, 

 and upon it a very roomy dome, of somewhat more flexible stalks, 

 formed with a clumsy wide-open entrance, which led almost from above 

 downwards, and lined internally, almost entirely, with tufts of cotton- 

 wool. The laying consisted of three eggs. Duration of incubation twelve 

 days. The young first left the nest the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth 

 days. At the very commencement of the incubation, the old Nuns 

 began to eat scalded seed and ants' cocoons, with yolk of egg, and 

 upon this they principally fed the young. 



The young plumage above is fawn-brown, below dull brownish-white, 

 the little beak shining black. These youngsters were so helpless that, 

 for almost eight days after they left the nest, they sat apart and 

 motionless on the earth, in the darkest corners and in thick scrub. 

 Then, however, they began to fly quickly and well. 



The change of colour first commences after four full months, as 

 follows : isolated feathers on the breast and neck change into the 

 beautiful glossy brown, whilst the back part of the body gradually 

 darkens and, little by little, becomes brownish-black. The young look 

 very extraordinary dappled white and brown birds, during their change 

 of colour. Whether, in spite of numerous experiments, a brood has 

 been developed elsewhere, I am quite unable to say. Mr. Linden has 

 indeed seen one take flight in his aviary, but, unfortunately, has com- 

 municated no details of it. 



The love-sport of the male is especially comical. Both birds sit for 

 a considerable time quietly close together upon a branch, and only now 

 and again utter their short piping call-note. Then the male raises 

 himself laboriously, stretches his head obliquely upwards, spreads his 

 short tail, and commences an extraordinarily zealous song, in which 



