126 On the Brown-throated Co?iures.


as I feared lest I might just lose a second nest of young if I

hurried them indoors at the end of September. It is certain that

many birds which call as they approach a nest of youngsters, do

so also when only eggs are present (I have noted this in the case

of the House-Martin); but probably very few utter sounds re-

sembling the cries of a family of young birds.



BROWN -THROATED CONURES.



I received from Miss Alderson four Conures which she had

privately imported from Jamaica. I turned them into an un-

heated garden aviary in May, two in one division and two —

which Miss Alderson thought to be a true pair — into another with

a large flight. For the first month they were terribly noisy and

"crawked" constantly, so much so that I even meditated getting

rid of them. They have gradually quieted down and now have

ceased to be a nuisance, though the two in the smaller division

" crawk " at me unmercifully when I am standing inside.


The " pair" justified Miss Alderson's faith in them, and on

21st June I noticed one of them had disappeared into the nesting

box. They must have played about for some time, for it was not

till August ioth I discovered four white eggs in the nest. On

August 1 8th I heard the sweet music of a chick's lusty voice ;

but alas ! it was silenced next day, and I found it quite dead,

evidently never having been fed. Two more were hatched. No.

2 was lusty and strong on the third day, but on that same day the

hen was very sick and bad and quite forsook her nest. After

consultation with my father, who takes the greatest interest in

my birds, we decided that it was one chance against nothing to

remove the two baby Conures and put them into a Green

Budgerigar's husk where some infant Budgerigars were daily

hatching. I found the two slate-coloured chicks ice cold.

However] I warmed them in my hands and then transferred

them to the husk. Mrs. Budgery popped back and then we

watched for half- an - hour. We could see no sign of her

resisting the intrusion. Next day No. 2 Conure was still

flourishing, but No. 3 was dead, and the next day I found it



