1899.] F. ¥iian — Notes on the Ploceidse. 267 



September \hth. Hen seems to Lave roosted by D : she has sat on 

 tlie whole more by him to-day, as proved by dung and observation. Both 

 cocks have been singing, about equally well. Had her cage cleaned. 



September 16th. Hen apparently roosted close to C, and on the 

 whole inclines to him to-day. I had her cage cleaned again to-day. 

 Heard C sing when she was sitting by him. 



September ISth. Made no observations yesterday, but cage was 

 cleaned about midday, and dung showed plainly to-day hen had roosted 

 by C ; she had also sat much near D. Hen's cleaned again fiist thing 

 after examination. Saw her sitting by D to-day, and dung seems to 

 show she has sat there more ; but at evening much inclining to sit by C. 



September 19th. Dung showed hen had roosted by C, and though 

 sitting more by D at first, in the afternoon and evening she was settled 

 by ; D very anxious to get in with her, as he has always been ; 1 have 

 not seen C equally so. 



September 20th. Was not quite sure from state of cage which side 

 hen had roosted ; had it cleaned, and found later she had sat both 

 sides ; a little more by D ; in afternoon sitting by C, however, as usual. 

 Caught both cocks, and let them in with her together. 



D's tail much disarranged by his fiequent attempts to get to her. 

 There was no fight, however, and she seemed rather inclined to sit by 

 D, so I released the lot. 



It is obvious from these experiments that hen (a) preferred the 

 brighter- coloured males, while no such certain conclusion can be come to 

 in the case of (/?) Possibly the superior brilliancy of C was compensated 

 for by D's obvious eagerness. It should be remembered also that bril- 

 liant colour in many birds at all events is a sign of high condition and 

 superior age, so that the problem to be dealt with is by no means a 

 simple one. All I can claim to have shown in tliese few experiments is 

 that the method of conducting them, suggested by Moseley (Natuialist 

 on the Challenger, p. 373) is a perfectly feasible one, given a sufficiently 

 demonstrative species varying in colouration. A more extensive series 

 would no doubt result in a definite settlement of this most interesting 

 question, and such can easily be made by any fancier of birds. 



