on the Olive Finch.



17 3



of any kind; the eggs, usually three in number but sometimes

more, are dull white in colour, with brownish spots towards the

larger end.”


And now we must turn more directly to the Olive Finch

in captivity, in the United Kingdom.


The following extracts from letters written by a Mr. M. at

Dundee shew us the ease with which this species may be bred ;

the parent pair had been sold to him by a London dealer as Cuba

Finches. Under date 25 Sept., 1900, Mr. M. wrote:—“ Ref. the

Cuba Finches. I bred them in a cold room in a small square

cage 10 x 10 and about I5in. high. I placed a small flower pot

well up the cage, with a square hole cut out of the lip 1J x ijin-

(covering the mouth of the pot with wood), put a small quantity

of withered grass in the pot, and gave them cow hair to finish,,

which they did very nicely. There were four of them altogether ;

one died after being 011 the sticks. They, the old ones, were fed

on ripe and well seeded chickweed, with canary and millet; and

the ordinary 7 canary egg food used in the breeding time. T

would have had another nest, as they immediately went to nest

again and laid another four eggs, but unfortunately a wild black¬

bird got out of his cage and scared the hen from her eggs, which

were only two days from hatching, that being on the 12th day.

The old hen left the nest every time I went into the bird room

and if I did stop for a time she would pop in and out every other

minute. I am sure I will be able to breed them next year with

better results, provided they are spared to live.” On October 11,

he wrote further:—“ Ref. Cuba Finches—so far as I can recollect

they hatched about 13 days after fourth egg was laid. I have no

dates, but they were bred in July. I calculated them coming out

same as canaries, and they did as I expected.” The three young

birds referred to above I purchased : see my foot-note O.S. VII.,

p. 30—I had been misled by the vender of the parents, for the

young developed into ordinary Olive Finches.


I have myself noticed that the female usually leaves the

nest if it be approached. I have reared several young, and so

has Mr. Seth-Smith. I need refer to only one of my nests—in

the garden-aviary—in which at the time were some rather large

and unamiable birds, who caused the Olive Finches to have rather



