Parrot-Finches. 
353 
aviary rather than to the difficult problem of jiicking out a pair 
at a dealer's shop, etc., it was as follows: A tiap box was 
fixed up in the aviary, which had a sliding door released by 
a string from a distance; in this were placed the seed pans, 
and if two agree and eat quietly from the same dish they arc 
a pair, the sliding door is released and they are secured 
and put up lor breeding or disposal — if not a pair, one at once 
chases the other out. 
Gkniokal Notes: This species is a general favourite 
with all aviculturists, and deservedly so, for its lieauty is 
undeniable, yet the writer confesses he has not kept it, mainly 
for this reason, they are costly and, when spending pounds on 
a single pair of birds, his choice has invariably fallen on soft- 
bills. 
The Common Parrot-Finch appears to be fairly iiardy 
once the prostration following importation has l>een overcome, 
but it nuist be noted that they do not stand damp or wet well, 
neithej- do they stand change of locality well— for in many in- 
stances which have come to my notice, established birds which 
have reared young, and young which have been reared in 
captivity, have b;'en despatched to other aviaries, and though 
carefully packed, and not en route more than twelve hours, 
carefully treated on arrival, yet have enjoyed a very brief life 
indeed in their new quarters. I deduce that aviaries built 
on clay, or any damp, wet, retentive soil are not suitable win- 
ter quarters for this species. Again that all aviaries which 
house this species, should possess a warm, dry siielter-shed 
(not necessarily artificially heated), also that there should be 
a portion of the flight roofed in; extending eaves, unless 
fully a yard or more wide, are not sufficient. Also that this 
covered- in portion should be so arranged as not to be wind- 
swept. 
Now, I think, more than enough has been said, es- 
pecially in view of other papers which are to appear in due 
course— thus I have not aimed at anything more than a series 
of broken notes— the other species known to aviculture will 
be dealt with in next instalment. 
