Tho Bierd'nig nf Afrlrnn Whifr.-ri/cs. 201 
doinp well. But in nineteen days fi-om the birth of No. 2, the 
hon was sitting' again on two ogfg-s. The cock liird had to turn 
head nui'se again, Out this business was complicated by the elder 
child, for I regret to say the elder child proved a robber, so 
I named him Barabbus, for he repeatedly robbed his parents 
of the baby's breakfast, lunch, tea, and supper, and eat it 
himself. Sometimes he would wait till i)apa had placed the 
mealworms in baby's mouth and then deliberately rob the 
liabv. However, he has mended his ways for now he i> as 
unselfish in feeding the baby as his parents, and it is just as 
well, a-T all his parents' efforts are employed in feeding infant 
No. One chick has again disappeared but the other is doing' 
well. All four Zostei'ops are such good friends, and it is a 
pretty sight to see all four cuddling up together. I am 
wondering how it will be when the third infant arrives on the 
scene. Fortunately the same long clothe short clothes, and 
other impedimenta that were used for Nos. 1 and 2 will come 
in as there has only been just time to " get them up " for the 
new infant, so there has been no need to look them out. 
In conclusion, I will only add that quite apart from 
winning' a medal, the breeding of my Zosterops has afforded 
me ar infinity of pleasure. I feel that I have been more 
than a fairy god -father to my little Zosterops. I have been 
the bountiful and welcome grandfather. Even their little 
wickednesses have been sweet to me, and my birds would know 
me ill my dressing gown — in fact, whisper it not, they did so 
know me. It may be many years before I shall see successive 
families in so short a time. At the beginning of my paper 
I said " Zosterops are not bred every day." Had I said month 
I should have been telling an untruth as regards my "birds. 
One pair of Softbills is worth 20 pairs of hardbills when 
it comes to breeding. Such are my views at any rate. If my 
Zosterops have a fourth brood I should think that would con- 
stitute a fresh record. If they knew, I am sure they would 
try. On the whole I am inclined to give the first place in 
my affections to my Zosterops. Are you surprised? 
