an open air aviary (together with a female), but he was killed, I

think by a cock Indigo or Diuca, both of which at once showed

hostility to him though they never molested the female, who is

still living. I am inclined to think that an open air aviary is the

suitable place for this bird, and that it will not thrive in a warm

and close room. I feel pretty certain that it is an egg-stealer

and should not keep it with smaller birds that are wanted to

breed. Canary-seed is its staple article of diet, and some hemp ;

mealworms it will eat to any extent, also egg-food and ants' eggs,

and it has a decided relish for green food. I have lately got

another male, but in poor condition, which seems generally the

case with these birds when first imported, though they soon

come round.


I find the Magpie Mannikin a most provoking bird in the

matter of breeding. My pair built a beautifully-constructed

nest of aloe-fibre in January. No young appearing after a

considerable interval, I made an exception to my invariable rule

of giving a wide berth to breeding birds, and examined the nest,

which I found half full of eggs. This nest was eventually

pulled to pieces and another built, which was almost immediately

destroyed, and another is now in process of construction, built, as

were the others, among some twigs of box. I should have

suspecfted that both my birds were females, but they are

decidedly different and came to me from Mr. Abrahams, who I

have never known to fail in distinguishing sex. These birds

also have a reputation for pugnacity, but I have not known them

to do any harm when associated with others of their own size ;

I have never tried them with Waxbills or other small species.

They are very fond of mealworms.


I consider myself fortunate in being the possessor of a

pair of Jacarinis ( Volatinia jacarini). The hen seems to be a

very rare bird in this country ; in colour she somewhat resembles

the hen Indigo Finch, though of course of a very different build.

These are rather slij^ birds, spending most of their time among

any bushes or cover there may be in the aviary, but when moving

about have very much the nervous habit of the Waxbills : their

tails seem never at rest. My birds have never nested, and from

their nervous disposition I should doubt their ever bringing off

a brood, though the Buntings seem generally steady sitters, if

these are Buntings, as Dr. Bowdler Sharpe suspects. They are

certainly fond of insects and always ready for a mealworm or

earwig ; as regards seed, they seem to prefer canary and Indian

millet, and delight in chickvveed.



