'Freely hnportcd Species. 
87 
iri'itating fashion. Zebra Waxbills had nested and their four 
i'y<Ts were minus one morning. A pair of Greenfmches also 
suflei't'd. I of course cast my (!yc round for the culprit. 
A fine, loud -singing Pekin Robin was the first suspect, and 
he was removed. Stil) eggs disappeared. Then a Bramble - 
finch and a Chafiinch came under the ban, but all to no 
purpose. At last 1 caught the thief "in the act." It was 
an innocent-looking Ivinnet. No doubt he had eaten the eggs 
which, as previously mentioned, were thrown on the lloor, 
and so had acquired the taste. Moral: Don't leave eggs 
or egg-shells lying about. 
By this time the Silverbills were feeling rather sore, 
and did not go to nest again for some time. At last they 
chose an old custard -powder tin hanging up in the most exposed 
part of the aviary. F'our eggs were laid, and all went well. In 
due time they were hatched, and then occurred a very sad 
event. When the young birds were only a week old, Mr. 
Silverbill died. Mrs. Silverbill, however, stuck to her duties, 
and reared three of the youngsters. They were very small and 
weakly, and were not independent for nearly two months. 
From this, I think it will be gathered that A, canfans are 
interesting birds and worthy of a place in any aviary. Never 
still, never quarrelsome or bullying, always ready to sing, 
easy to acclimatise, and ready to breed, they are ideal birds 
for cage or indoor aviary; but of course, to see them at 
their best, they must be put where there is some grass, reeds, 
or bushes, and there, flitting about from twig to twig, they 
form a picture not easily forgotten. 
Silverbills form a very good subject for hybridising. 
According to a list compiled by our esteemed Editor, it has 
been successfully crossed with the Bengalese, Bib, Chestnut- 
breasted, Olive, Spice, Striated, Sharp-tailed, and Zebra 
Finches, as well as, with the St. Helena Waxbill and the 
\Vhitc- headed Nun. 1 am sure if those who have been so 
fortunate as to breed these hybrids, would send descriptions 
of them to " Bird Notes" it would be of general interest. 
