144 Nesting Results at Vaili Lodge Aviaries. 
To a beginner this is, of cour.sc, higlily sratifying, and 
yet, perusal of these figures, or rathei- facts, leaves many a 
heart-ache. It is the "ali-but's" tliat, perhaps, try the pati- 
ence and enthusiasm of aviculturists far more than the " malce- 
no-attempts." I keep my " all-but's " in a spirit bottle where 
they mock me as I go to my daily work. 
I propose to note roughly the various species mentioned 
and make a few passing remarks, such as one gets so weary 
of in election contests, and headed " Why, I succeeded " cr, on 
the contrary, " Why I failed." 
The first species on my list is the Diam()>u Fixch, 
which rejoices in several aliases (Diamond Sparrow, Spotted- 
sided Finch, etc.), but there is only one Diamond Finch, with 
its bright crimson rump, white breast, spotted sides or flanks, 
and the broad black band round its portly chest. This species 
appeak to me very much. Their strong rapid flight, their 
indefatigable nesting operations, their greed for feather's, their 
queer love -antics, to say nothing of the seductive yet scolding 
call of the cock bird, bidding the hen to come and look after 
the house and children. I have had several pairs and they are 
all inclined to bully, especially in the nesting season (which 
is very nearly perennial) and keep the inmates of the aviary 
from getting over -fat and lazy. It is, I think, unwise to have 
more than one pair in the same aviary. They seem to always 
choose a corner nesting site, and prefer a rusii nest to any 
other. They never tire of adding bi'icks and mortar to their 
abode, but are good parents on the whole. The eggs are white 
and by no means large for the size of the bird. The young 
when they leave the nest are of a grey colour rather than a 
black, and have no distinct white spots; the beak is blackish. 
I feel convinced they require greenfood and probably live-food 
to rear their young; tliey eat flowering grasses with evident 
gusto. 1 reared two of this species and finally disposed of 
both. The sexes are hard to distinguish, but are easier to pick 
out in the aviary and in certain lights, when the beak is seen 
lo be quite different in the two sexes, especially during the 
the breeding season. In the cock the beak is much more 
of a magenta than in the hen. The call notes of the two birds 
are absolutely distinct. The cock's call note being a liarsh 
raucous scolding sound, and yet oddly enough not altogether 
