354



Prof. W. E. D. Scott,



The nest was built inside the house, quite near the roof, amid some old

pine branches which I had nailed up for that purpose. It was composed

solely of hay; and was so small that it appeared hardly capable of holding

the two eggs. When the bird was sitting on its nest it had the appearance

of a man with a hat too small for his head.


At the time of writing they have nested again and both eggs have

hatched out. The birds are of a brown vinous red, paler on the breast,

greyish blue on the forehead, and have an edging of black with blue black

blotches on the wings; the female is paler and browner in colour, and the

young resemble her.


C. CaSTIvR-SIvOANE.



AN ACCOUNT OF SOME EXPERIMENTS IN REAR¬

ING WILD FINCHES BY FOSTER-PARENT BIRDS.


By Prof. W. E. D. Scott.


\_Reprinted from Science, N.S., Vol. XIX., No. 483, Paoes 551-4,


April 1, 1904, by the ki?id permission of the Atithorf


During the spring of 1901, having some twenty pairs of

Canary birds mated, I attempted to induce them, in two cases, to

incubate the eggs and rear the young of wild Fringilline birds.

These experiments led me to continue similar efforts during each

succeeding spring, and I propose to summarize the results of

what occurred in this way, in 1901, 1902 and 1903.


In May, 1901, I secured a set of Song Sparrow’s eggs

(. Aj elospiza cinerea melodia). There were four eggs in the nest

and incubation had just started. I brought the eggs, together

with the nest to my laboratory, and took away from a ver)’’ tame

hen Canary bird four eggs which were in her nest, substituting

the Song Sparrow’s eggs. I watched the hen Canary for a short

time to assure myself that my actions had not prejudiced the end

I had in view, and was presently delighted to see her return to

the nest and settle herself to brood the eggs as if they were her

own. In due time, after about eight days, all of the eggs were

hatched, and four lusty young Song Sparrows became the foster-

children of the Canary. This bird was an especially good

parent, as I had proved by her rearing with success three broods

of Canary birds during the preceding season of 1900, the whole



