on the Violet-eared Waxbill. 335


examples of others, simply adapting himself to circumstances.

Now, compare this with the abnormal nests of certain English

Chaffinches in New Zealand which have become, I feel tempted to

say, rather ridiculously historical. That Chaffinch (or those

Chaffinches) found itself amongst a foreign vegetation, with

foreign material to build with. The trees were strange, the

materials were strange, the climate was strange, all the surround-

ings and attendant circumstances were strange, even the very

seasons were topsy-turvey. That a Chaffinch, half demented and

out of order after its long voyage, should have built a strange

nest under such strange conditions was about the only item in

the affair that was not strange ; it would have been strange

indeed if it had not. It was hardly a case to found an argument

upon. And this abnormal nest of the Violet-eared Waxbill, an

abnormal nest like that of the Chaffinch but constructed as we

know by an experienced builder, seems to weaken still more the

case of those who hold that, if opportunities of imitation, &c, be

wanting, a bird cannot build a typical nest of its species. The

more the case is considered, the more one sees that this abnormal

nest of the Waxbills was a splendid instance of a bird making a

clever and intelligent best under very untoward circumstances ;

and that of the Chaffinch may well be regarded in a somewhat

similar light.


Although going about their work very quietly, the Violets,

especially the male, were endearingly tame. When the male

wanted anything, feathers for instance, directly I appeared he

would fly to and perch close beside me, and look up into my face

asking for what he needed as plainly as any dog would beg for

its tit-bit. When I produced the feathers, and stooped down to

separate and spread them out under a shed, I would find the

male on my one side and the female on the other ; and they

would commence to examine and select them before I had com-

pleted my work, and would carry to the nest before my face in

perfect confidence — but I never approached the nest, and kept

away as much as possible. In the inner aviary, where they liked

to think that I knew nothing about the nest, they had been

much more secretive and non-evident. Really their great care — --

seemed to be to conceal the aperture ; and, for the rest, surely



