on the Duration of the Period of Incubation. 157


really begins, is perplexing: nevertheless, in a good many cases

the period of incubation has been ascertained. Neochmia

phaeton is said, by Dr. Russ, to incubate from eleven to twelve

days, PEgintha temporalis for thirteen days, Pytelia phcenicoptera

twelve days. Of the many other Waxbills which have been

bred, I can discoverno other information. For Erythrura prasina

Lieut. Hauth gives thirteen to fourteen days ; according to Mr.

Phillipps Poephila goiildice would seem to take quite fifteen days ;

I cannot find any other record but his, as to the period of

incubation, and that (being based upon hearing the young on

the 16th day) may perhaps be not altogether satisfactory: I

think the young may have been hatched a day earlier, but not

heat'd. Poephila cincta takes only twelve days according to

Russ; but P. personata according to Mr. L- W. Hawkins (Avic.

Mag. VII. p. 32) “ about sixteen days.” Russ gives twelve days

for the Diamond-Sparrow ( Steganoplura guttata) and for Aina-

dina fasciata : this I found correct. Tceniopygia castanotis only

takes eleven days to hatch, and it is probable that the same is the

case with Stictoptera bichenovii. The Cherry Finch ( Aideviosyne

modesta) takes twelve days, Aidemosyne cantaus and malabarica

eleven days, Uroloncha striata and acuticauda twelve, Munia maja

twelve, and I have little doubt that this is true also of the Java-

Sparrow (M. oryzivora) of which I have bred a great number,

but never could be quite certain when incubation had com¬

menced. Spermestes cuc 7 illata and bicolor take twelve days,

but S. ?ia?ia thirteen.


Of the Whydah-birds next to nothing is known : Hypo-

che 7 -a nitens incubates for twelve days. Steganura paradisea was

bred by Dr. Russ, but he discovered that his birds were breeding,

only some time alter the hatching of the young. Of the

Weavers, Pyromelana capensis takes fifteen days ; Mr. Phillipps’

misfortune with P. franciscana unhappily leaves us in the dark as

to that species (Avic. Mag. N. S. Vol. III. p. 92). Oiielea quelea

and erythrops sit for fourteen days, Fo 7 idia 7 ?iadagaseariensis and

Hypha 7 itor 7 iis 777 ela 7 iocephahis fifteen, Sitagra hiteola eleven, and

the P. baya group of Ploce 7 is fourteen days.


We now come to the New World Starlings ; and, beginning,

with the finch-like Meadow-Starlings, I have failed to obtain any



