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the pair is not sufficiently secure and undisturbed. It is best to

breed them in single pairs and separate the young as soon as a

new brood commences. Unassuming, vigorous ; must not be

kept too warm, otherwise convulsions.”


Mr. Gednev thus relates the story of the nesting of his

Virginian Cardinals in an outdoor aviary. “ Towards the end

of the month of April, the hen was busily engaged in carrying

twigs about in her beak, flying hither and thither as if in search

of a suitable retreat in which to deposit them. Taking the hint,


I put up a bundle of birch spray in one corner of the aviary,

made a snug hollow in the centre, and carefully packed therein a

large handful of fine sticks as a foundation for a nest. Then I

threw into the aviary a lot of the same material and a bundle of

hay bands cut into lengths of about eight inches and well picked

to pieces. She took the idea. Piling the fine sticks one upon

another, she formed a solid circular foundation like a basin, and

then wove an inner lining of hay with marvellous neatness and

accuracy, leaving a receptacle for the eggs about the size of a

breakfast cup, and giving to the whole a finish as fine and com¬

plete as any blackbird ; her mate meanwhile attending and

examining the structure with a critical eye, though he shared in

none of the labours. The nest, thus formed, was only three feet

from the ground, admitting of free inspection from without ;

and I was greatly entertained by the antics of the cock, who

spent several hours ensconced in it, looking as important as if

he were responsible for the whole affair, and as if it were

he for whom the snug place was specially prepared. Next

morning, however, Mrs. N. was found upon the nest, and when

tempted to leave it, by the offer of a piece of cooked meat, I saw

that the first egg had been deposited. Four others were laid at

irregular intervals, eight days being occupied in the laying of

the five, the hen showing very little desire to incubate until the

hatch was complete. During her absence front the nest, Mr. N.

never left it for an instant, but, perched at the entrance, kept

zealous guard against all intruders, singing lustily meanwhile ;

and there he remained during the whole period of hatching,

except that at such times as his better half indulged in a bath he

occasionally settled down upon the eggs until her return. The

period of incubation extended to fourteen days from the laying

of the last egg, and the young when hatched were quite naked,

resembling somwhat those of the common house sparrow. The

eggs, too, were similar in colour and markings to those of the

bird referred to (dirt}’ white, thickly covered with olive blotches),

though equal in size to that of the Song Thrush. The young



