I3§


worms he could find, and living on Abrahams’ egg-food himself.

The youngsters appeared in due course and were very ugly little

wretches; something like young Sparrows, of a dull, livid

colour, naked, and with fearsome mouths. They kept the old

birds busy from morn till eve in supplying their wants ; but they

grew splendidly, and at the end of about twelve days they one

morning appeared on a branch outside. Beauties they are,

not a bit like the old ones; but rather like a thrush, grandly

speckled on the breast, and with a lovely shading of blue on the

wings and tail. They are long since full grown and able to

scrat for themselves, and ever on the look out for mealworms

and “ black clocks.” I am very proud of my success, as it is so

seldom that Blue Robins are raised to maturity.


The “authority” I have before referred to, tells us that

mealworms are “ too stimulating;” I guess that but for mealworms

and clocks, those youngsters would now be stiff and cold.


II. A nest of Bib Finches.* I believe this is almost, if

not quite, an unique event—I mean the rearing of the young.

Eggs, I know, have been laid before, but I have never heard of

any young being reared. My Bibs built a snug nest in a

cocoanut husk in the quietest corner of the aviary, and the first

intimation I had of a family was the voice of the young being

fed. The peculiar call note attracted me, and on going to the

husk, out bounced the fully fledged young. They are just like

the old birds, except they have no “ bib ” and are rather yellow

round the beak.


III. A nest of Bengalese (Yellow and White) ; these

built in a travelling box and reared three youngsters. They are

now busy with their second lot of young : a good lot too, by the

row they make at feeding-time.


IV. A nest of Silverbills, out some four weeks since,

hatched in a cocoanut husk. A second lot of three has come off

this week ; and the old pair are sitting again somewhere, but

they are very sly over their movements.


V. A nest of Green Avadavats. This is their second

nest this year, out of doors. Is not this phenomenal ? They

build a lovely nest like a ball in some bush, of bass lined

warmly with feathers, and lay about five eggs each time; but so

far, although they sit splendidly, they have not hatched. I think

it has been too cold. They are now at it again. Ret us wish

them good luck and a large and bouncing family ! I do.


VI. Cutthroats. Two pairs with youngsters in cocoanut

husks. I find them most harmless birds in my aviary.



* Spermestes nana. Dwarf Finch is the commoner English name. Ed.



