364



Mr. W. E. Teschemaker,



this little bird to English aviaries with a fair chance of its becoming

permanently established and self-reproducing. Several visitors have

seen the earlier broods on the wing, though I only seem to have

made a note of one name—Mr. G. Coates, of Coventry.


I have 21 eggs of the Scaly-fronted Finch in my cabinet.

They are quite unlike those of any other species with which I am

acquainted, being so densely overlaid with brown and dark greyish-

drab blotches that it is impossible to distinguish the ground colour of

the shell. Size, ‘65" by ’50".


The Scaly-fronted Finch is one of the most enthusiastic

architects of all the dome-builders with which I am personally

acquainted ; when it strikes a dull day and cannot think of any

other amusement, it sets to work to build a nest ; even an unmated

bird will complete a nest in a couple of days. Haagner tells us that

they are very common in the mimosa scrub along the Modder

Kiver, building an untidy dome-shaped nest of grass, woven with

“ the ends projecting in all directions and lined with the flax-like

“ flowery heads of grasses and feathers.” This accurately describes the

many bush-nests which I have seen built (and I may add that I have

seen as many as four such nests in one small bush), but let me here

point out an important difference in habit between this species and

the Weavers. The first article of faith of this little bird is that “ a

Scaly-fronted Finch’s home is his castle ” ; garden-colonies, semi¬

detached residences and fiats he greatly disapproves and, if any

neighbour starts house-hunting in his immediate vicinity, there will

be a battle royal (which in one case ended in the death of a fine

male). Frequently, however, he will select a box, as in the

accompanying photo (if the Editor can find room for it), and, in that

case, he builds an undomed or only partly domed nest warmly lined

with feathers.


The young in the nest are most curious little objects, having

large warts of pale cream-colour at the angles of the beak. The task

of feeding a family, which seldom is less than four and sometimes

six in number, is a heavy one, but I may perhaps venture to point out

to those who are not too deeply imbued with the ancient methods of

aviculture, that the task can he greatly lightened if insect-food is



