Freely Imported Species. 
85 
witli acclimatised birds. Those imported in autumn or win- 
ter will not, of course, be put in the out-door aviary until 
the following May, and then only during what looks like a 
spell of settled weather. 
Breeding, etc. All my experiences are confined to 
the African species. I well remember some years ago see- 
ing a pair — or rather a couple — of small foreign birds in a 
local bird-catcher's window. He said they were a true pair 
of Bengalese Finches, but as he only demanded eighteen pence 
for them Unvested that amount. The next morning one of them 
began to sing, but the other sat with its head under its wing, 
and I soon came to the conclusion that its mission on' earth was 
at an end. It was a little brown bird with a black head, 
but it was not until 1 purchased our Editor's " Foreign Birds 
for Beginners," that I disooevred the "Bengalese Finches" 
were a Silver bill and a Black -headed Nun. So much for a 
bird catcher's knowledge of ornithology. This Silverbill lived 
in an ordinary wire Canary-cage, for a long time, in per- 
fect health, always ready to sing. The only time it ever 
looked "seedy" was when I tried to make it sjjend a week- 
end without any white millet. It certainly never got " linger- 
t;ime" but soon ceased to flutter when any one went near it, 
Mid was a source of pleasure and amusement to everyone in 
the house. After that I bought several more birds includ- 
ing Bengalese (real ones this time), Waxbills of various sorts, 
and a Pekin Robin. With .all these the Silverbill was on good 
terms, ready at all times to sing or make love to any who 
olfered him the least encouragement. When they they were 
|iat into a small out-door aviary, A. cantmis thoroughly 
enjoyed himself, ble examined every corner, bathed himself, 
and danced about as though he had found himself once more 
in his African wilds. One day I saw him dancing and sing- 
ing round a big Barbary Dove. 
It was not until about Christmas time 1912 that I 
managed to secure a hen Silverbill. This was one which 
had nested in the aviary of a friend in Luton. The pair 
spent the winter indoors in a box-cage about twenty-four 
inches long, eighteen high, and fifteen wide. When spring 
came they were duly put into the aviary and at once set 
about nesting. After every box, husk, and nest had been 
examined, they decided in favour of an oblong box, eight 
