256 F. Finn — Notes on the Ploceidse. [No. 4, 



No. ir. 



September Srd. Removed A (who I found was minus one bind 

 claw, lost some time since) and replaced liim and B by two birds pro- 

 cured from same dealer, from a caj^e containing cocks only. These did 

 not differ so much as A and B, but one (C) was more scarlet and better 

 spotted than the other (D) which was coppery in hue. Cleaned away 

 dung from under hen's top perch, and put C in B's place, and D in 

 A's, so that locality could make no odds. C is minus some of his tail, 

 as A was. 



September 4ith. Hen, though she has evidently roosted next D, in 

 the old place, showed a marked preference for C's side. She is hardly 

 so well as usual, and has slight diarrhcBa, D wants to get in with her. 

 Both he and C look well. One was singing to-day. 



September bth. All birds well : one singing; hen mostly on side of 

 C. I think she roosted next him last night. 



September 6th. All birds well ; heard D singing ; the hen sits 

 sometimes on his side, but I think, on the whole, more on C's, judging 

 especially by the dung deposited. 



September 7th. Hen sitting on both sides, most on C's in afternoon 

 at all events. She sits very close to the wire now. Have had cage well 

 cleaned. 



September 8th. Hen still varying, but at evening sitting most by 



C. I doubt whether she roosted by him last night, however, though 

 evidently keeping his side by day. 



September 9th. Hen varying a little, but sitting mostly very close 

 to C in n)orning. Heard C singing. Not observed in afternoon, being 

 Saturday. Quite settled to C, I think. 



September 10th. Hen sitting near D when I first saw her, settled 

 near C as usual at noon. Removed her. 



No. III. 



September 11th. Replaced hen by another (/3) a particularly 

 fine big bird, got from' same dealer, out of a cage conteaning hens only. 

 Hen sat close to D at first, latterly to C. 



September \2th. Hen distinctly favouring C, and often sitting near 

 him ; heard him sing once. 



September ISth. Hen seen'once'or so sitting by D, but oftener by 

 C ; cage cleaned, and dung seems to show she has been more on D's side 

 than C's to-day. Yet appearances as above stated. 



September l^th. Hen has evidently roosted on C's side. Sitting 

 mostly by D, to-day ; heard him sing. Late, when she was sitting by 



D, C sang several times, aud she went and sat by him a little while. 



