48 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



pairs of them had an enclosure, say one of twelve by 

 six feet in area, and eight or ten feet high, well turfed 

 and planted with suitable shrubs, box, elder, etc., they 

 would probably be more successful in regard to the 

 rearing of their young than they have hitherto been 

 in this country. 



The price at which the St. Helena Waxbill is sold 

 by the dealers is now very trifling, three or four shil- 

 lings a pair, or even half-a crown, for which latter sum 

 I have occasionally seen them offered, and except as 

 a curiosity, or for the sake of attempting a hitherto 

 unaccomplished feat, it certainly would not be worth 

 anybody's while to go to any expense to induce the 

 birds to breed and behave in a natural and proper 

 manner to their helpless offspring: but it is something 

 after all, to be able to say, "I have achieved complete 

 success where everyone else has failed". 



The sexes are very much alike in outward appear- 

 ance, but the female is decidedly the smaller of the 

 two, and the red of her breast and lower parts gener- 

 ally is less brilliant than that of the' male. He sings, 

 too, very prettily, and she seldom does never, unless 

 she happens to be caged by herself, when she some- 

 times warbles a little. 



White millet (properly sorghum) is the best food 

 for these little birds in a general way, but they may 

 also be given some spray or French millet and Canary- 

 seed for a change occasionally. A sod of short grass* 



