On Bullfinches as Decoys.



85



on August 16tli ancl these lived, and at the time of writing' are still

alive. From Aug. 16th to Aug. 29th the parents fed them on meal¬

worms and seed, principally the latter, while flowering grass and

docks were always available. August 29th saw the young feeding,

on white millet.


When in the nest the parents had access to all the above

foods, in addition ants’ eggs, alive and preserved, and occasionally

spiders were thrown to them.


Two dead young ones were found the other day just by the

nest, and from what was left of them I came to the conclusion that

they too had been Grey Waxbills, in which case the number of eggs

must have been at least six, but whether laid by one hen or two I

cannot say, probably the latter, which would account for the second

two young leaving the nest eleven days after the first two.


Young plumage. On leaving the nest the colours of the young

were as follows :—Breast and abdomen, light grey; wings and back,

light browny grey ; tail, brown with some black feathers (I think

the outer ones) ; beak, black ; throat, light grey, with two darkish

lines (thus A) from the base of beak descending a short distance.

On Sept. 3rd the red eyebrow streak was beginning to show, and

to-day (Sept. 21st) the young are showing signs of being indistin¬

guishable from their parents at no far distant date. The parent

birds have again been seen carrying nesting material.



ON BULLFINCHES AS DECOYS.


By E. Dorothy Leeke.


A cock Bullfinch (a German) owned by a friend living in a

London flat, flew out of his cage about eighteen months ago, and

away into Chelsea Gardens where he probably remained, but unseen,

for about six weeks. He was extremely tame and quite devoted to

his mistress, who had him as a constant companion for three years.

He had lived chiefly outside his cage in her room. Every method

was tried to entice ‘Joseph’ home, but in vain. At last, in sorrow

and despair of his life, she procured another Bullfinch — a freshly-

caught young cock from Shropshire—and he (Anthony) took posses¬

sion of the late lamented one’s cage.



