6



winter together, and the Seed-eaters could be heard for a

considerable distance, so loudly did they sing.


The end of April, the smaller of the two laid several eggs

on the sand and one in the canary seed pan on the floor, on

which she sat. I removed the egg, but she still sat on. I placed

comfortable nests within reach, but she would not leave the seed

pan. I left home for a fortnight in May, and on my return she

was still sitting in the seed, and had not laid any more eggs.


Noticing that the male was feeding her, I took away all

seed vessels from the ground, and they then set to work house¬

hunting in earnest.


On June 26th, the Seed-eaters took possession of a nest

built by Waxbills, lowered the roof and flattened out the lower

part ; it was rather tip-tilted but looked safe ; that night the hen

slept in the nest ; on the 30th, she was sitting on four eggs, and

on July 13th,, hatched two young ones.


On the 15th, I was away all day and on my return found

the young ones forsaken and dead.


On the 25th, she was again sitting on four eggs, and on

August 6th, she hatched one chick ; this, two days after fell or

was thrown from the nest, I replaced it and it was fed, but in

the evening it had disappeared, and I could not find even the

cold remains.


I then pulled out the unsafe nest and hung in its place a

roomy box.


On the 15th, she had again laid four eggs ; these came to

nothing, and to-day, September 18th, she is busy with the nest

again.


I never saw the male feed the young, but he constantly

fed the hen both on and off the nest, and they have never

quarrelled.


They are very tame and interesting, and I should be glad

to know if any member has had a similar experience, I cannot

say where the fault lies that none of the young were reared.


Now 7 may I go back to June 27th, and the hen Canary

referred to ; she, on that day, began to sit on three eggs in an

open nest high up in the aviary, which she had built of hay and

grass. I had thought of removing her, but concluded she might

be of use as foster-mother so she was allowed to remain. While

she was sitting, a young White-throated Finch (that I bought in

his nest-feathers, not knowing what he might be) fed her, and

defended her and her nest from the interference of others with



