on the Violet-eared Waxbill. 337


its almost frantic endeavours to get to the trees, in order that it

might search for minute examples of life among the leaves. They

had one small patch of wheat which they searched through and

through many times a day and day after day, but clearly there

was a great shortage of live food. They would dart into the air

after any tiny creature, but were not clever at the work. The

male was by far the most industrious and useful, and would dig

away with his beak, especially near to where the garden wall

entered the ground ; and he continued this work so industriously

that he must have found something good. Occasionally, but

infrequently, he would scratch with his feet, much after the

manner of the Combasou and some of the smaller Whydahs.

He constantly, although the weather was now dry, nibbled and

seemed to suck away at the ends of growing wheat.


On the afternoon of July 15, a glorious day, both birds

were off the nest together. They were as tight as sticks, and as

slim ; with feverish activity they were searching for food ; in the

bright sun, the brilliant colours of their beautiful plumage shone

and almost sparkled as they darted about — a truly charming little

picture.


On the afternoons of July 16 and 17, bright and warm,

both were off together and working hard. I noticed that they

were gathering aphides off the elder leaves — black nasty-looking

things; could they have been harmful? it is unusual for birds

to touch them, I think.


All along I had been supplying what artificial food I could

think of. I had heard of some ' fresh live ants' eggs ' ; they

arrived on the evening of the 17th, and some were at once sup-

plied to the Violets. 18th — Very cold morning: neither hunting

much : both looked full and contented ; 19th — Too ' contented ' :

female carrying feathers to nest ; 20th — Carrying feathers : female

on nest almost the whole day. Was this a final effort to revive a

feeble chick? 21st — Nest deserted, and female 'sleepy.' Nest

empty : no trace of young : one half of an egg which had once

contained a young bird found below nest ; 22nd — Female very

ill; 25th— Dead.


The change in the behaviour and appearance of the^aLd-

birds synchronized so precisely with the arrival of the fresh ants'



