66



be reared. I do not know the cause, but in my experience one

or more of the young in every nest are almost sure to die. If

this occur soon after hatching the little body is thrown out of the

nest and will be found on the floor of the aviary, but if it take

place when the nestling is over a week old the corpse remains in

the nest and soon causes a truly awful smell. When this is

discovered (the smell I mean) you must examine the nest and

remove the dead bird. Sometimes the whole brood will die. So

far as my experience goes, Ribbon Finches do not throw out

their young alive, but if other aviculturists have actually known

it to happen I am of course prepared to believe it; however, at

present I am disposed to think it is a myth. The presence of

young in the nest can always be known by the noise they make

while being fed. As they grow older this noise becomes very

loud. They leave the nest when nearly three weeks old, and are

then perfectly fledged; the red collar of the male is then clearly

visible, though not nearly so bright as it afterwards becomes.

The old birds show much affection for their young and much

resent being separated from them. It is not wise to remove

the young so long as the parents continue to feed them, and yet

their presence often leads to the failure of the next brood. For

this reason Ribbon Finches and similar species frequently only

rear every other brood.


Having reared your young Ribbon Finches, you will pro¬

bably find that there is no sale for them, and that you are rather

tired of these common, noisy and (under certain circumstances

mentioned above) nasty smelling birds. You will, however, have

gained some experience which may be of help to you in breed¬

ing rarer and more attractive species.



THE FRINGILLIN/E.


VII.—THE GREEN SINGING FINCH.


Serinus icterus, Bona et Vieill.


By W. T. Catleugh.


Our Hon. Secretary has asked me to write an article oil

the Green Singing Finch for this series, as I appear to be the

only member who has succeeded in getting this bird to bring its

young to maturity.


The Green Singing Finch is too well known for a descrip¬

tion of its appearance to be needed. The only bird with which

it could very well be confused is the St. Helena Seed-eater

(Setinus flaviventris'), but although the two species are singularly



