Breeding of the Hooded Siskin.



51



BREEDING OF THE HOODED SISKIN.


Chrysomitris cucullata.


By Dr. M. Amsler.


In March 1909, I bought a pair of these charming birds from

-a fellow aviculturist; they arrived quite lively and well, but the cock,

as I had been warned, was “ a trifle thick as he had not quite

finished his moult.” As a matter of fact this was his normal con¬

dition, for he was never as slim and tight in feather as his neat little

mate. This pair spent the warmer nine months of 1909, 1910, and

1911 in an open aviary with plenty of opportunities for nesting,

but, although they were obviously on very good terms and never far

from each other, we got no further than volumes of sweet music

from the male, and once I think an attempt on the part of the

female to build a nest; on the latter point, however, I am uncertain

as there was a very mixed collection in the aviary at that time.


The whole of last winter, the cock, who was obviously aged,

was very puffy and asthmatical, and as spring approached and his

condition did not improve I took the opportunity when in Bordeaux

of buying two cocks in perfect condition and feather, which I brought

back to England. On my arrival, I found as I expected, that the

old cock had departed this life, and I, therefore, introduced one of

the new comers to my hen. As I have this year changed my house

and have had to build new aviaries the birds were not turned out

until July 7th.


The Siskins shared the aviary with Gouldian Finches, Bufi-

caudas, Avadavats. and other Waxbills. Almost the first day I

noticed the hen carrying, but nothing more happened and my hopes

fell again to zero, for I could picture one of Mr. Hubert Astley’s

beautiful little hens busy at work and robbing us of the medal

In the middle of July the hen was moulting, but the cock was still

in perfect feather and very attentive to his spouse, regularly feeding

her from the crop. On August 24th, I again noticed the hen carry¬

ing bits of felt which I had given the Avadavats as a lining for their

nest. She was continually going in and out of a nest-box hung up

near the roof of the shelter, but she always emerged with the nest¬

ing material still in her bill and, therefore, got no “ forrader.” The



