i6g


fledge rapidly, and in favourable weather leave the nest at the

age of five weeks. Although there is great similarity in the

colouring of the two sexes, the nest feathers being very rusty

in appearance, yet the cocks are easily distinguished both by their

superior size aud by a shading of red upon the breast. When

the first brood are reared before mid-summer the parents

invariably go to nest immediately they get the youngsters off

their hands, and although they sometimes interfere with the

arrangements, especially when the old nest is repaired and used

a second time, yet I fancy that the presence of the progeny is a

source of satisfaction to the parent birds, and that it gives them

a greater sense of security in their future proceedings.” It is

evident that the first part of this interesting account, down to

the hatching, is derived from actual observation, but from the

change of tense and other “ internal evidence,” I draw the

inference that Mr. Gedney’s young birds were not reared. In

any case his statement that the young remain in the nest until

five weeks old must be a mistake. I am not aware of any bird

of the Finch Family the young of which remain in the nest

longer than three weeks ; the usual time with such birds is some

days under three weeks.


The Virginian Cardinal will usually nest in an aviary,

either indoors or outdoors, if sufficiently free from interference.

Matters generally proceed smoothly until the eggs are hatched,

but then troubles come, and the proportion of young birds

actually reared is very small indeed to the number hatched. The

difficulty in rearing is due to the half-insectivorous habits of the

bird. Five insects are usually considered necessary for the

rearing of the young, and if a constant supply of these could

always be obtained, success would be comparatively easy. But

live insects, in quantities, are difficult to procure regularly, and

the Virginian Cardinals after once feeding their young on this

diet will often decline to give them anything else, and either kill

them outright or allow them to perish rather than feed them on

soaked ants’ eggs, egg, or other substitute. It is better to

dispense with mealworms entirely while the birds are nesting,

for the } 7 are very stimulating, and their use may lead to the

destruction of the young by the parents. Probably blackbeetles

or cockroaches are the best form of insedt food. Gentles might

be used. But after all, I am by no means sure whether soaked

ants’ eggs and egg, with a plentiful supply of fruit and green

food (not forgetting green peas, of which the birds are extremely

fond), would not be the best diet, without any live insects.


Mr. John Sergeant, of Southport, who has succeeded in



