350



Mr. G. C. Porter,



foot Austrian pine in the stable yard. The hen was sitting, and

the cock, perched above her on the very tip of the leading shoot

sang there by the hour most charmingly. This nest was des¬

troyed, I believe by Sparrows who pulled it to pieces, scatter¬

ing the eggs to the ground and pilfering the material for their

own nests. In addition to this a persistent two days’ rain killed

all the young in a Grey Linnets’ nest.


Now of course it was merely a coincidence that so many

accidents should have befallen nests in a single garden. But

the fact does go to show some of the risks run by all wild

birds at nesting time from natural causes, though we do not

always have them so easily under observation.


P.S.—We keep a careful eye on our Sparrows’ nests in the

interests of a nursery of Burrowing Owls ; and, although it has

little connexion with the foregoing, I may add that several

Sparrows’ nests this year both in the ivy of the walls and in the

bird-boxes contained but a single egg, and consequently but one

nestling. It is also worth remark that in one of the bird-boxes

this summer a cock Sparrow did practically the whole of the

sitting. I only saw the hen sitting on one occasion, just before

the young one (there was but a single egg) hatched.



THE BREEDING OF THE RED-FACED LOVEBIRD.


Agapornis pullaria.


By G. C. Porter.


Early in the summer I was offered a freshly imported lot

of Red-faced Lovebirds. I had never kept these birds before, as

they are popularly supposed to be rather stupid and delicate

birds. I had my doubts about buying them, especially as the

dealer encouragingly remarked that he should not be surprised if

they all died like flies, but I could have them cheap if I cared to.

Finally curiosity prevailed over prudence and I carried off my

purchases, not however without some misgivings as to the

future. They looked well and seemed wonderfully tame, but I

found out that this was partly induced by the small space they



