on Sun ancl Sugar Birds.



117



Blues are the same, as they seem to be greedy birds. I have had a

number of Yellow-wing's and nearly all have died of what I believe

to be nothing but old age. The reason I think this, is that I have

noticed as a rule those that have died have failed to go into eclipse

plumage at the proper season for this change. When one of these

birds has not made the seasonal change, it has, though perfectly

healthy in appearance and continuing in brilliant plumage, died

shortly before the next moult. I can only conclude that when they

do not g'o into the eclipse plumage this is a sign that their period

of usefulness is over and they are no longer wanted.


I may mention that I do not think any of my Sugar birds

have suffered from being suddenly deprived of their garden flight,

but perhaps none have been in the moult at that time.


Of all the vicious little brutes I have ever kept I think Sun-

birds are the worst. Some of them will attack almost anything

I believe. I have a hen Zeylonica that has seriously maimed

Tanagers more than twice its size. I have now placed this little

pest in a compartment with Peach-faced Lovebirds and I have seen

the Lovebirds move from a branch where the Sunbird wanted to be.

The Sunbirds nearly always injure each other with a vicious blow

with the beak on the front of the skull causing a fracture or serious

damage to the scalp. A fight begins without any warning and

between birds that have lived for months in perfect peace and a hen

or cock is quite as likely to attack one of the other sex as one of its

own. Pairing seems to be a matter of selection on the part of the

birds rather than a matter of chance. Probably age has a good deal

to do with this. I have only had one pair that really paired and

they were most affectionate and nested, but all other pairs that I

have selected as likely to breed have lived in a sort of armed truce

which has eventually ended in a fight.



