Breeding of flic Lesser Sal iron I' inch. 
329 
result, and the next niorniiiji' its plaint pathciic monotone 
was still to be heard. 
She then a|)|)earcd to resij^ii IktscH' to the loss, tor 
she returned to her former routine ot hunting uj) worms in 
in tliL- orchard, and waiting for crumbs in front of the window, 
and (jiice more as the slanting shafts of light lingered over 
the tops of the pear trees her cheery, rippling notes would 
bid us good-night. 
o 
Breeding of the Lesser Saffron Finch. 
(Sycalis minor). 
V>\ .Maukice Amsler, .M.H., F.Z.S. 
'till- following ;iccounl has bct-n airangKcl Irniii Dr. AiusIcrS ;ough 
notes, as he had already written an article for another .hiurnal. His 
phraseology has been adhered to, and of course the article appears .inder 
his name. - Ed.]. 
This species, the rarest in tliis country of the genu> 
Sycolis, has not, so far as I am aware, been previously bred 
in captivity in the British Isles. And this is my excuse for 
describing the nesting operations of a pair of birds, whose 
brood is as easy to rear as a nest of Canaries. 
[j\c e.Kcusc is needed for the recording of any sin rcis, .m a|)o!ogv 
should rather be tendered for hiding to do so. The mistaken view, " not 
sufhciently notewoitliy" has been, and is, responsible for the loss to .ivi- 
cultun: of many interesting records, and often is probably only a lubter- 
fuge to co\er slackness and laziness. -Kd]. 
Tlirec other species ot Satiron Finch arc known to 
aviculture, vi>;. : 
Saffron Fmch (Sycalis flavcola). 
Pelzeln's Saffron Finch (S .pclze/ni ) . 
Yellowisli Finch (5. arvensisj. 
The first-named has been kept for many years and 
has been bred in many aviaries. Pelzeln's I have bred, pro- 
curuig ni) slock from my fellow member .Mr. W. K. Tesrhe- 
maker, who was the first aviculturist to breed this' species. 
'l"he Yellowish Finch is not common, but it has been bred 
in one or two aviaries, the initial success being gamed by 
idr. D. Seth- Smith. 
