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other birds come near their nest perch, and my aviary is rather

crowded with a mixed collection of British and foreign finches.

Several pairs will agree and breed together, even with other

species, providing there are at least twice as many nests as pairs

of birds.


They are hardy in the extreme, safely coming through the

roughest winter weather. I have found mine on sharp frosty

nights roosting in the open uncovered portion of the aviary, and

in .the very pink of condition next day. The bath should be

given in all weathers, and they will keep themselves in perfect

trim, and thrive on the roughest treatment, though, like all other

species, they repay, to the full, careful and thoughtful attention.


When Mr. Java is making love to his mate, he is most

entertaining and amusing, going through a most grotesque per-

formance of jumping, bowing, scraping, and twirling in the

effort to shew himself off to the best advantage. lyCt me put in

a plea for aviaries here. Birds never do themselves justice even in

the largest cage, and they give an ample return for the cost of erecting

aviaries in the pleasure they afford and the happiness of their

demeanour when kept under almost natural conditions. I am in

favour of garden aviaries constructed similarly to an ordinary fowl

run, viz., with shed, shelter open at front, and run open top aud

front, wired with half-inch netting ; and I am convinced that

many species that will not live indoors without a little heat, in

such an aviary, if turned out in June, will survive our severest

winters.


Java Sparrows readily become tame, and with their bright

appearance, perfect trim, and entertaining ways, a beginner could

not do better than invest in a pair or two, provided he procures

aviary-bred ones. As I said before, these are the cheapest and

best in the end, even at three times the cost of the imported

ones.


SERIN FINCHES BREEDING IN CONFINEMENT.

By G. C. SwAiLES.


A pair of Serin Finches ( Serhius seriiius) have this season

nested successfully in my aviary. The nest, an exceedingly

Small structure, much smaller than a Redpoll's, was completed

by about the 3rd of May ; four eggs were laid ; and three young

ones left the nest on the 31st of May. They were fed chiefly on

the seed of the dwarf grass, and on leaving the nest were soon

able to look after themselves. The old birds nested again at

once; but I had carelessly allowed a lot of L,ong-tailedfield mice^



