63



would seem to be little difficulty in inducing this species to breed

in our aviaries : it is almost always ready to nest, and it seems to

be as hardy as most of the small Australian finches, far hardier,

in fadt, than either Bicheno’s or Gould’s.


The cock of the pair above described met with an

untimely end last September (1898). A cock Yellow Sparrow

(Passer luteus) had for some months occupied the same aviary,

and had never appeared to be at all dangerous towards his

companions. One day a wife was obtained for him, and no

sooner was she put into the aviary than the pair commenced to

murder their companions. They were very soon captured and

caged, but not until the gallant little cock Rufous-tail and a

hen Crimson-finch (Neochmia phaeton) had been murdered.


A new mate was soon found for the widow, and the pair

now live very happily together. The new bird is a much finer

specimen than was his predecessor ; but his song is almost

inaudible, whereas that of the first male could be clearly heard

at a distance of ten or fifteen feet.


The song of Bathilda ruficauda , which is very frequently

uttered, closely resembles that of Gould’s Grassfinch, and seems

to prove that Dr. Sharpe has correctly placed this species next

to the more typical Grassfinches, although in many respects it

somewhat resembles the Waxbills.


The present writer’s observations of Bathilda ruficauda

have led to the opinion that it may safely be kept with the

smallest and most helpless of birds, providing the aviary is not

very small. It will, it is true, when nesting, make headlong

dashes at any bird that may chance to approach its nest too

closely, but it will do 110 actual harm, and when not nesting is

perfectly peaceable. It must, however, be remembered that this

opinion is based upon a somewhat limited experience of three

examples only, and other specimens may be found to differ

somewhat in temperament.


The Rufous-tailed Grassfinch has been bred in France

and possibly in England, although no account of the rearing of

the young has as yet been published. As to food, canary- and

millet-seed form its staple diet in captivity ; chickweed and

flowering grass should also be given when obtainable. The

specimens above described have occasionally been seen to

tackle a mealworm, but animal food does not appear to be

necessary, except, perhaps, when there are young to be reared,

when probably egg-food of some kind and soaked ants’-eggs

would be beneficial.



