396 
Tlie First Trnr of a Sussex Aviary. 
been kept in a cage for six weeks before being turned out. 
By now it is the 1st of November and we have only 
lost the Cordon Bleus which do not seem to do well here, 
aiifl tlie Blue-breasted Waxbills. 
As the summer came on, we anxiously watched for 
signs of domesticity, and in due time were rewarded by the 
Magpie Mannikins who hatched six and successfully reared 
four young. Altogether the hen Mannikin has laid fortj^ eggs 
find has only fully reared six young, a'most entirely due to a 
desire to start a new nest before the last young were mature, 
or even ready to leave the nest. Still, what we should have 
done with forty Mannikins we do not know, so perhaps it is 
all for the best. 
The next to follow suit were the Culian Finches, who 
true to their natural state selected the bamboo bush, and 
built in i" a domed nest of hay in which they deposited four 
eggs. All these hatched and three young left the nest, the 
fourtl) lieing adandoned hy its parents to starvation. The 
sexes of these three which have reached the adult state are 
one male and two females. Of all the birds we have Had 
we arc fondest of the Cubans. Their cheerful call and brigbt 
perky ways make them peculiarly fascinating; and thej'- alone 
became tame enough to take a mealworm from our fingers. 
Our next episode was a disappointment. The Blue- 
breasted Waxbill? ne,-;ted, five eggs appeared, the hen sat on them 
and nothing happened; they all proved clear. Not long after- 
wards first one and then the other shuffled off this mortal coil. 
As a contrast to this, our next event was a triumph. 
The Firefinches made a nest in a cardboard box, which had 
once contained note paper. They laid three eggs from which 
two young were hatched. Both the young were successfully 
reared and appear to be hens. 
The Red-headed Finches were disappointing. They 
nested several times but the best result was one young, which 
lived about three days. On the other occasions the eggs, 
which were never moi'c than three in number, were either 
addled or infertile. 
The Zebra Finches nested in a coco -nut husk, and 
first produced four young, two of which, both cocks, .suj-vived. 
A second brood of four was more satisfactory, all four living 
