on the Violet-eared Waxbill. 327


strong male stood a little in awe of these Waxbills, and usually

gave their corner a wide berth. Did the weak one deliberately

seek the protection of the Blue Breasts? It is rather contrary to

the nature of the Violet-eared Waxbill to build at such a height,

for, if I may judge from my own birds, the ' four feet' mentioned

by Stark (I., p. 105) is about the maximum ; the majority of the

nests built here have been between 3 ft. and 4 ft. from the ground.

Nevertheless the Violets are sensible birds, with a fine disregard

for red tape. The second nest constructed by the weaker male

and his mate was an independent and normal one, but they

never dared to occupy it.


More than once during the year I did, indeed, see all the

four Violets feeding and taking exercise together without

quarrelling ; but all through another point was confirmed. The

meetings of the one pair with the other were accidental, brought

about by the narrow confines of their little world. They never

associated together ; at the best, it was but an armed neutrality;

they kept as far apart as they well could ; otherwise than when

taking exercise — to which I will refer later — perhaps they never

met without a disturbance except when on some neutral ground :

for, after a while, each pair settled down to a particular district,

the boundary line between the two being generally respected. If

the weaker trespassed even for a moment, a fierce pursuit was

immediately set up. On the other hand, when the stronger

male crossed the border, the action clearly was regarded on both

sides as a raid and as a trespass ; and the raider, after a wild dash

hither and thither, would quickly withdraw within the limits

of his own domain. All the same, the shadow of the raider

oppressed the land, so that the second nest of the weaker male

was soon deserted.


This and everything I see and hear confirm my expressed

opinion (N. S. IV., 305-6) that the Violet-eared Waxbill does not,

in the wild state, go about in promiscuous flocks ; Dr. Edrnond

Symonds' (p. 306) is the only statement to the contrary with

which I am acquainted.


Moreover, the available evidence, as far as it goes, tends

to point to a species that customarily pairs for life.


The male and female are very companionable and frietrdly^



