My Birds and their Doings. 
193 
with my specimen. The male wlieii aiigrj' or excited erects the 
feathers of the crown into a small crest. 
These birds, although not gaih^ coloured, are very pleasing 
and interesting, and well worth a place in a mixed series. The 
pugnacity of the cock being the only drawback in keeping them 
with small birds. I do not know whether this species has yet 
been bred in captivity, unfortunately mine have made no attempt 
to nest, but I am in h-opes tiiey will yet do so. 
\_.\\\ tlie Buntings, with l)ut few exceptions, are more or less pugna- 
cious, and very few species liave been bred in captivity ; but. in a roomy 
and natural aviary there is no reason why they should not do so — however 
in aviaries containing mixed series, those species which build open cup- 
shaped nests have but little chance of success, their nests being mostly 
pulled to pieces as soon as built. To make success probable they ought not 
to have too much company and it would be well to have some large covered 
iiest boxes, with large front openings, hung about botii in the open and 
under cover, but all should be well screened with some kind of brusliwood. 
I'"or some species a grassy bank is necessary, it should contain a few cavities 
which should be cunningly concealed by tufts of grass and the like. I have 
no time to seaich before going to press, but cannot call to mind any record 
of the breeding of E. rutila iii the country. Kd ] 
flDv 35ir&5 ant> tbeir ©oings. 
Nesting and other Notes for 1909. 
By H. WiLLFOKD. 
{^Continued from page 149). 
In consequence of the recent changeable and inclement 
weather, several broods of young birds that looked very promis- 
ing have nearly all died from the effects of it. 
PiLEATED Finches {Coryphospiugus pileatns). These built 
an open cup-shaped nest, laying two white eggs (rather large for 
the size of the bird), which duly hatched out and looked very 
promising for seven days, but during the heavy rains then pre- 
vailing the young were deserted and left to perish miserably. The 
old birds are now again engaged in incubating two more eggs. 
Crimson-winged or Aurora Vi-t^cnyis {Pylelia phoenicop- 
terd). After several unsuccessful attempts, these have at last 
succeeded in fully rearing two young, which are now quite 
