Breeding of the Sulphury Seed- eater . 2G.5 
strong on the wing, flying "vrell on the day they left the nest. 
The nestling plumage was grey, tinged with green on 
flights and tail, and striated wilh brown on the breast and 
back. But for their shorter and thicker beaks they could 
easily have been mistaken for young Pied Flycatchers. 
They are as tame as young Canaries and a week after 
leaving the nest would take seed from the hand; this, however, 
they seemed unable to crack, and they were in equal diniculties 
with a live mealworm. I fancy that insect food forms a 
very small part of their dietary. At the time of writing, 
July ir)th, they are quite independent of their parents, who 
sliow signs of going to nest again. 
These birds are well Avorth a place in any aviary, 
being very attractive and the r^ock is a fine songster. 
♦ • 
Nesting of the Black Seed-Finch. 
(Mt'Iopi/n ha nigra) . 
By Wm. Shohe B.uly. 
This i.s a l)y no means common species, and though 
not of bi'ightly coloured i)Iuniage they are yet interesting and 
handsome Ivirds, and may well be sketchily de.scribed as mini- 
ature Black Bullfinches. Their native habitat is Cuba. In de- 
meanour and general characteristics they closely resemble 
Olive, Culia, and .lacariiii Finches. 
The first week in June I noticed both my Black Seed- 
Finche,^ carrying nesting material. By the 10th they had 
completed a domed nest of grass and hair in a bush. It was 
a rather flimsy structure and was unlined. 
On the l.lth the first egg was laid, followed by two 
othei-s, one of which 1 removed. The eggs were white marked 
with dirty grey blotches. Incubation lasted twelve days and 
was shared by both parents. 
As soon as the young were hatched both parents became 
vei'Y lame and would take mealworms from within a few 
inchej of my hand. These were supplied every two hours. 
I also saw them diligently searching the shrubs, etc., for blight, 
but nevei observed them hawking for flies, as flo the Weavers. 
Wlun feeding young a good deal of spray millet and 
