The rearing of a Hybrid between Passer montanus & P. luteus. 95


in spite of several night frosts and fogs. To see the supposed

delicate Ringed finches and Gonldian finches splashing about in

water which must have been frozen over shortly before and

evidently thoroughly enjoying it, is certainly a strong argument

in favour of the open-air treatment for many foreign birds.



THE REARING OF A HYBRID BETWEEN


PASSER MONTANUS <&• P. LUTEUS.


By R. Suggitt.


Although my acquaintance with the Yellow Sparrow has

not extended over a long period, I have found it a most desirable

aviary bird. It is lively and interesting, and, given a fair amount

of room, may safely be associated with the smallest finches. It

always gives one the impression that it has some serious business

on hand which leaves it no time to interest itself in the concerns

of others.


The male is a really handsome bird, his only fault (not a

very serious one) being a monotonous and constantly repeated

chirp.


I bought a reputed pair of young birds in their nest

feathers early in August, 1905, from a dealer, and after keeping

them in a cage for a few days, put them into my outdoor aviary

and waited patiently for the brighter colored bird to assume adult

plumage. Meanwhile it repaired an old nest in one of the hedges,

laid two eggs and abandoned them. This decided the question of

sex for the other was undoubtedly a hen.


Throughout the winter they were very shy and only

to be seen occasionally, but they gradually became bolder,

and one of them, early in May, attempted to build a nest

in a small hawthorn tree. After struggling unsuccessfully for

three or four days to lay a foundation of coarse twigs, she

abandoned the site and commenced to carry sticks and hay into

a Hartz cage under the shelter.


On May the 5th I purchased for a few coppers a very fine

male specimen of the Tree Sparrow {Passer montanus) and put

him into the aviary, hoping he would pair with one of the hens^of



