THE



Bvtcultural fllbaga3tne t


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



VOL. V. —No. 57. All rights reserved. JULY, 1899.



THE CORDON BLEU.


Estrilda phcenicotis.


By Reginald Phieeipps.


My early experiences of this species were limited to a

Small Birds’ bird room—long since closed—in which they were

practically lost amid a number of Waxbills, Mannikins, and the

like, all flying loose together. Under these conditions the}^

seemed amiable, inoffensive little creatures, without much

character or spirit ; but, given healthy specimens to start with,

I found no difficulty in keeping them alive and well.


I had not, however, tried the Cordon Bleu in the garden ;

and, on the 15th February, 1898, noticing a nice looking pair, I

purchased them forthwith, with a view to giving them a trial of

outdoor life as soon as the weather became warmer.


By the 15th April following they were in perfedt health

and condition ; and on that day I loosed them in the garden.

On and from the 17th May, I noticed that the male had become

exceedingly savage, attacking all birds (but see exception below),

irrespective of size, that approached the particular region over

which he had proclaimed a protectorate ; and I found that a nest

was being built among some Virginia creeper which covers an

upright structure in the aviary, on the almost due east side, five

feet from the ground. During the spring and summer, the

Long-tailed Grassfinches (five) did much mischief, appropriating

quite a number of other birds’ nests for nesting or squatting

purposes. One pair tried very hard to obtain possession of the

Cordon Bleus’ nest ; but the male Cordon fought like a little

demon, and succeeded in keeping off his formidable antagonists.

This same pair hovered about and menaced the Cordons’ nest all

through the summer and autumn, at one time building a nest

just four inches above it, measuring from the nearest points;

and they took possession of it the instant the Cordons were

removed to warmer quarters for the winter.



