35



Ribbon Finches and a pair of Dwarf Finches sitting, besides, possibly,

some others, as there is a thick hedge in the aviary. The Saffron Finches

lost their young, and are, I think, breeding again. The other birds reared

broods. F. D. H. Daly.



NESTING OF THE DIAMOND DOVE.


Sir,—A pair of Diamond Doves in my aviary have, this year, success¬

fully reared two pairs of young birds, a fact that is perhaps worth recording

in our columns, since the species has not very frequently been reared in

English aviaries.


In the early part of the year, I had two pairs of Diamond Doves in

an indoor aviary, and I found the hens very subject to egg-binding, in fact

one of them succumbed to this complaint in April. In May, a pair was

put into a garden aviary, where they soon commenced to build. They

would not look at any artificial nesting-receptacles, but preferred to build

as Nature had taught them—amongst the natural branches. The nest was

composed entirely of stiff pieces of grass ; it was very small—about two

inches in diameter—but well made and strong. The eggs were hatched

in about twelve days, and the young grew very rapidty; in fact they were

sitting outside the nest when they were a fortnight old, and in less than

three weeks from the time they hatched were able to fly as well as their

parents (a).


The old birds went to nest again very soon after the young could fly,

but they continued to feed the latter until they were quite able to look

after themselves.


Young Diamond Doves are at first barred with brown, and have

none of the white wing-spots ; these, however, begin to appear when the

birds are about a month old. The bright red skin round the e}-e is not

developed until they are six or eight weeks old, when they are

practically indistinguishable from their parents.


I think it is advisable to separate the sexes during the winter months

and keep them out of hearing of one another, or else, even if the tempera¬

ture be kept fairly high, the hens are apt to become egg-bound and die in

the early spring.


I think it is improbable that Diamond Doves would breed success¬

fully in an indoor aviary unless it were of a considerable size ; few birds, in

my opinion, do half so well indoors as out, in the summer.


Diamond Doves are, to my mind, the most charming of foreign

Doves: the}^ are hardy, very beautiful, of a decidedly cheerful disposition,,

and, if suitably housed, are free breeders in captivity.


D. Seth-Smi'i'h.



THE MADAGASCAR WEAVER.


Sir,—I should be glad to know the experience of any members of

the Avicultural Society in keeping the Madagascar Weaver (Foudia madagas-

cariensis) with Waxbills and other small birds. Is he a safe or a dangerous

bird ? I should like to know their observations of his character, both in


(a) A third pair were hatched on October 9th, but the parents discontinued feeding

them when the weather became chilly, and they lived only sixteen days.—D. S.-S.



