276 Experiences of Foreign Finches and So f (bills. 
release, so they are not to be recommended for an acclimatiz- 
ation experiment. 
Common Whvdahs (Vidua principalis) stayed well 
for some months, but disappeared in the autumn. This may 
not have been their fault as they were very much disturbed at 
the feeding places. 
COMBASOUS {H ypochaera oena) also stayed well for 
a time and then wandered. They did not appear over-hardy, 
and, as they are rather late breeders and parasitic, it seems 
very unlikely they would succeed in maintaining themselves by 
finding suitable foster-parents for their offspring. 
AvADAVATS both Red {S poraegintlius nmandava) and 
Green {Sfictospiza formosa) are bad stayers. Young of the 
Red species were hatched on one occasion, bu,t a spell of bad 
weather killed them before they left the nest. 
Scarlet Tanagers {Rhampliocaelus brasilius). I ob- 
tained a fine acclimatized pair of these birds and released them 
in a very large, well-ventilated greenhouse. Although fed on 
on nothing but fruit and live insects (not mealworms) the 
hen had several fits about a fortnight after she reached me. 
I released hc.r with the cock and she slowly recovered. The 
pair stayed about two months and then wandered away for 
no apparent reason. 
A second pair, obtained in early winter, were killed 
by Owls. 
Blue Tanagers {Tanagra episcopus) were not such 
good stayers as the Scarlet, but one bird remained with me 
nearly six months, being ultimately starved to death, owing to 
food being devoured by Starlings during a spell of very severe 
weather. 
Cowbirds {Molothrus bonariensis) seemed unable to 
to stand the winter out of doors. It is very unlikely they 
would be a success at liberty. 
American Bluebirds {Sialia sialis) being insectiv- 
orous and migratory are also useless for acclmiatization experi- 
ments. 
Golden-fronted Fruitsuckers iCIiloropsis aari- 
frons) disappeared almost as soon as released, but I am cer- 
tain that some, at any rate, were taken by Owls and did not 
Stray. 
