on the Duration of the Period of Incubation. 155


In the true Finches I have the following records:— Carpo-

dacus erythrinus , twelve days (according to Dr. Russ). I believe

this is the case also with the European Bullfinch, as fresh eggs

which I placed under a Canary were certainly hatched the day

before her own produce. Mr. Meade-Waldo does not record the

duration of incubation in the Trumpeter Bullfinch.


From what Mr. Swailes says of his Twites, this species

must sit for thirteen da}^ like the English Linnet, and probably

the Redpoll, (I conclude that the Twite began to sit on the

evening of the 19th May, and the young began to hatch early on

the 2nd June, or during the preceding night). Siskins (as with

Goldfinches), from the ease with which they can be crossed with

the Canary, should occupy the same time; but Dr. Russ, who

bred Chrysomitris atcullata, omitted to record the period occupied

in hatching Serimis faviventris , icterus, and lezicopygius all agree

with the common Canary in sitting thirteen days, and the nearly

related Alario-fincli probably does the same ; in fact Mr. Fillmer

says that a hen in his possession “ began to sit on the 7th of

July, and hatched on the 19th or 20th ” (Avic. Mag. III. p. 109).f


The Saffron-finch (Sycalis flaveola ) takes fourteen days to

hatch according to Russ, frequently confirmed by myself. Mr.

W. T. Page proved in 1900 that the Chaffinch takes fourteen days

to incubate its eggs (Avic. Mag. VI. p. 9). In his account of the

Teydean Chaffinch Mr. Meade-Waldo omitted this detail; but it

is probable that all the species of Fringilla agree in this respect.


Passer arcuatus, according to Russ, broods its eggs fourteen

days: this is probably the case with all the typical Sparrows ;

but owing to the hap-hazard manner in which they go to nest

they evade observation, so that in the case of both our Editor

and Mrs. Howard Williams the appearance of the young birds

came as a pleasant surprise. I think it probable that the same

number of days would hold good also for the Rock-Sparrows ;

but, as my hens were unpaired, the incubation of infertile eggs

may have been unnaturally protracted.


* A note in the ‘ Gefiederte Welt ’ XX. p. 500, states that C. spinus sat for thirteen days,


but failed to hatch.


t Capt. Shelley, however, gives eleven days to this species, and fourteen to Serinus

sulpkuratus in his “Birds of Africa.”



