282 7Vie Black Tanafjer. 
Yoxng in nest : Cuba, Ribbon, and Red-heailed Finches ; also 
Black-cheeked Lovebirds. 
Incuhatwg : Melba Pinches . 
W. A. Bainbridge, Thorpe. 
Young in nest: Indian White-eye, and Red-headed Finches. 
Wm. Shore Baily, Westbury. 
Young on wing: Two Dwarf Weavers. 
♦ 
The Black Tanager (Tachyphonus melaleucus). 
By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., etc. 
This is just a short note to fill a vacant space at the moment 
of going to press . 
In my aviary a pair of this species have done well diiring the 
past four years, and their behaviour, if not exactly exemplary, has bejn 
mostly an attitude of non-interference with the other occupants while 
fullj- looking after themselves. 
In the hen bird the mother-feeling has been very strong, so 
much so, that lacking young of her own to look after, she would insist, 
on assisting other soft-billed species to bring up theirs, fighting for this 
privilege if denied — several promising young birds have been lost from 
her interference . 
In 1911 and 1912, she would not build a nest, although several 
clutches of eggs were laid in wood boxes, nothing came of them, all but 
one being addled, presumably from rolling about on Ihe bare wood, 
one hatched out, the chick living but one day. 
In 1912 no nest was built, but from a series of cluti'hcs one 
3'oung bird was hatched out and fully reared, living two mouths after 
fending for itself; but, it moulted very late, and died in the midst of it. 
This year they have nested twice ; on the first occasion a l usli 
nest wa^ chosen, but no material was carried in, and from a clutch of 
three eggi one bird was hatched out and fully reared, but was .slaugh- 
tered by its father about ten days after it began to fend for itself. 
This tragedy, I think, arising from the facts that the old birds went io 
nest again, before it (the first j'oung one) was out of hand, and later 
when it was " on its own " insisting on sleeping in the nest with the 
incubating hen. 
This time the hen built an ojicn cup -shaped nest, in an open 
barrel (provided for Doves), right at the back. I do not know how 
manj' egg.s were laid, or how manj' young there are, certainly not b'ss 
than, two and very lustj' ones, too, if we may judge by the noise they 
make, being now about nine days old . 
I may enlarge more upon the doings of this ])air of birds at a 
later date as they have interested me much by their individuality. 
♦ 
Post Mortem Reports. 
None to hand at time oj (join<j to press. 
