330 Mr. R. Philupps,


and frequently in a semi-ventriloquial voice. A very similar

note again is uttered by the male when he seeks his missing

female. A common note, with modifications, is a sort of chisel,

often used as a note of warning of the presence of a stranger or

of any strange or dangerous object or creature ; it rather reminds

me of the notes of some of our Wagtails.


When the male wants to invite a reluctant female, he will

occasionally build a sort of platform some 3ft. -4ft. from the ground,

squatting on which he will warble forth some singularly soft and

sweet 'rolling' notes, to the accompaniment of the various

movements of nest-building — the weaving, interlacing, con-

struction of the dome, &c, &c, often with a blade of grass in

his beak. This species, I am satisfied, customarily pairs inside

the nearly completed nest.


When in the garden, I notice how exceptionally keen the

Violet-eared Waxbill is in its search after aphides, examining

the foliage day by day most diligently. This in a general way,

but very specially when they have young, which seem to be fed

largely on tiny insect life. I have seen them go for centipedes

and even larger creatures, but only I think when aphides are

scarce. I never give them mealworms, but occasionally they will

take them.


The Violet-eared Waxbills, at certain seasons, usually only

in the rather early morning, fly backwards and forwards, day

after day, between the two farthest- apart points of the place in

which they are confined, keeping up the 'constitutional' for

quite a long time, so strongly do they feel the need of a good

'breather.' While engaged in this exercise, feuds are forgotten,

and all fly backwards and forwards together, usually for a good

half-hour or more. In the six-foot cage during the winter, a

Violet will thus take exercise, a circumstance which points to the

superiority of the long over the high and the more cube-shaped

cages. Certain lofty cages in the New Birds' House at the Zoo.

are not faultless in their construction in this respect, being high

but comparatively narrow and shallow ; for other captive species

besides Violet-eared Waxbills habitually will take exercise in a

precisely similar manner. A lofty aviary or aviary-cage is good,

but a lengthy one is very much better.



