The Silverbill. 147 



on the wing for the possession of some coveted nesting place! 

 but the tiny combatants are so light that the severest tussels 

 in which they engage are very harmless affairs indeed. 



The Common Waxbill is perfectly hardy, and wiU live for 

 years in an unwarmed bird room, but will not, under such 

 circumstances, breed, even if a few eggs are now and then 

 deposited: but if its native climate of Western Africa can be 

 reproduced for its benefit in this cold and smoke-begrimed 

 island, few birds will rear a greater number of young ones in 

 a season, on a diet of soaked seeds, ants' eggs, sponge-cake 

 and aphides. 



One or two I have lost from egg-binding, and a few more 

 apparently from old age. It is said that they will live out of 

 doors aU the year round, but this I have not proved. 



The scientific name of this species is JEstrelda, or JEgintha 

 cinerea, the Grermans call it Me graue Astrild, and the French 

 le Bee de Corail ordinaire. 



CHAPTER XLVI. 



THE SILVEEBin. 



THE subject of the present chapter is one of the sweetest 

 and most indefatigable little songsters with which I am 

 acquainted: in fact he scarcely ever stops singing, and the 

 female is almost as accomplished a performer as her mate. 



The Silverbills are very gentle and inoffensive birds, breeding 

 freely, whether in cage or aviary; all they require for nesting 

 purposes being a cocoa-nut shell, not husk, and some fine hay 

 and feathers. 



The length of this bird is about three and a half inches, of 

 which one inch and a quarter belong to the tail. The sexes 

 are very much alike in appearance, so much so that it is 



