52



Dr. M. Amsleb,



following clay I examined the nest-box and found nothing in it, so I

placed an old Chaffinch’s nest firmly in the box, and hoped our friend

would line and make use of this. She was, however, very indignant

at my interference and began pulling the nest to pieces.


On the 26tlr of August I found she had taken possession of a

nest-box previously used and lined by my Ruficaudas. This box was

fortunately low down, about five feet from the ground and was open

at one end, so that one could easily see into the nest. A very neat

cup-shaped nest was built in thirty-six hours, of hay and cocoa-nut

fibre, lined with felt and feathers. The hen began to sit at once, but

no egg was laid until August 30tlr, The full clutch consisted of four

eggs, which were laid on consecutive days ; they were of the faintest

possible pink colour with very minute brown spots at the broad

end. Size : 16 mm. by 10 mm.


The male bird took no part in building or incubation, but was

always near the nest and ready to feed his mate when she came off.

The latter was a model sitter and I only saw her off the nest two or

three times during the whole incubation period.


On Sept. 13th (a Friday to wit) the first and only chick was

hatched, the other three eggs proving clear; it was quite naked and

of an orange-brown colour. On the 15th, I peeped into the nest

and saw a distinct increase in size, and a crop which was bulging

with food. I think this consisted of sponge cake and maw seed; in

fact, I believe the chick was reared on these two foods (of which

large quantities disappeared) and green food such as groundsel and

flowering grass. Here, again, the cock took no direct or active part,

although he was always ready to feed the hen when she left the

nest. After three or four days, however, she seemed to have no

further craving for pre-digested food and always took her fill of maw

seed and sometimes a little hemp as soon as the food supply was

given out in the morning.


On Sept. 21st, I heard the chick calling for food, and again on

the 24th, this time at a distance of twenty yards from the nest; on

this date I again looked into the nest, the three clear eggs were still

there and the chick w T as now a dark-brown colour and showing

feather. On Sept. 26tli, the orange-brown cross bars on the wing's

were clearly discernable.



