220 
Brocdoui of the Blade Seed-finch. 
The sexes are alike, but from their demeanour T judged 
them to be a true pair, and to my delight, in the .spring, 
they built a nest in a small conifei'; Imt though young were 
hatched, unloi'tunately, they were not reared. 
Thi.5 year, after wintei-ing them indoor.s, I turned them 
into the same aviary, hoping they would again nest and this 
time more successfully. Owing to the war and other causes, 
I have not had as much time as usual ito devote to my 
birds, and on going to feed them on June 1st, was very much 
surprised to see a little black stranger disporting among' the 
shrubs, a- I had no idea that the old birds had been incubat- 
P/kjIu hi/ W ill. Slion-Unily, 
Nest and ejigs of Black Seed-Fiucli. 
ing. A diligent search failed to find the nest, and, it was 
only after two or three days that I thought of looking- in 
the conifer, in which they had nested last year. Here, sure 
