Dr. A. G. Butler,



156



Sper'mopliila grisea (or more likely S. plumbea ) is said by

Russ to incubate twelve days ; he says the same of 6”. albigularis,

so that this time is likely to be common to all the species.

Volatinia jacarini was bred by Herr Langheinz about 1890, but

he omitted the period of incubation in his account of any of

the broods. Coccothraustes was bred by Herr W. Hartwig in

Berlin, who recorded eleven days incubation for this large

Hawfinch ! I am afraid I neglected to make a written note at the

time when I bred our Greenfinch, though I know I fully

expected the young after thirteen days, and was satisfied to

see the parents feeding them on the morning of the fourteenth

day. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Hedymeles ludoviciana) takes

fourteen days, as also the Virginian Cardinal, the Grey Cardinals

of the genus Paroaria , and the Green Cardinal (Gubernatrix

cristatella) , the last-mentioned I confirmed in 1895.


According to Thomas Gentry, the Chipping Sparrow

(Spizella socialis) only takes ten days to hatch out; but Dr.

Russ considered this an error, and said it must surely take eleven

to twelve days ; as Junco hyemcilis takes twelve days ; none of

the species of Zonotrichia seem to have been bred, but it is

probable that their period will be the same. Respecting the

species of Emberiza I have no notes. Cyanospiza ciris incubates

for thirteen days * Dr. Russ seems not to have been quite sure

about Phonipara , for he gives it from eleven to fourteen days ;

from what Mr. W. D. Hawkins says (Avic. Mag. VII. p. 30), his

hen must have sat from July 12th to 26th, on wdiicli day one

young bird was hatched ; this would give fourteen clear days:

possibly the youngster may have been hatched, but not noticed

the day previously : Mr. Pliillipps records nearly twelve days

(Avic. Mag. VI. pp. 193-4).


Owing to the excitability of many of the small Weaving-

finches ( Ploceidcz ) it is not often easy to discoverf how soon they

begin to sit steadily, or when the young hatch; also their

tendency to retire frequently to their nests, before incubation



* Mr. Farrar, however, says that his Indigo-finches hatched at the end of twelve days.

(Avic. Mag., VI. p. 273).


t See Miss Alderson’s experiences in the case of Sporceginthus melpodus (Avic. Mag., VIII.


pp. 65-67.



