The Breeding o f (Ireen Cai'dina 
Mierefori' Iwclvc ilays. From tlu' lirst ilay the cock t't'(l tlic xouiii^ 
cliicks from iiioriiiii.i; to iiiylit, tlic lieu at first lirooilini^ tluMii. ami 
iMisinii herself nj) to allow her mate to feed tlie cliicks. 
The latter were at first of an orange pink tinue with hlaclc 
beaks and down. 
On the third day the hen began to feed also. Tiie food con- 
sisting, as far as I conld .judge entirely of insects, i.e., meal- 
worms, gentles and their \n\\r<ii and live ants' cocoons : worms 
whole and cut uyi were carefully avoided. 
At seven days the young were dark-brown in colour, with 
the wing and tail (luills showing well ; on the 12tli day the feathers 
were well developed and the black and yellow parentage was 
clearly recognisable in the chicks. At this stage the old birds began 
to feed with orange, banana, lettuce and Cecto " ; these foods, un- 
like the insects were regurgitated, whereas tlu' latter were merely 
killed l)efore lieing given to the young. 
On June 2t)th (two weeks from the date of hatching), l)otli 
young birds flopped out of the nest and sat in a pi-ivet bush, where 
they spent the night, never again returning to nest. The next day 
they were both able to fly the length of the aviary, but their 
course was a downward one, a higher point of vantage always being 
attained, l^y a process of climbing and hopping from twig to twig. 
It was only after the young left the nest that I tirst noticed 
the parents feed with seed, chiefly white millet and hemp, which 
was also regurgitated. 
My notes on the plumage shortly after leaving nest are : 
" like hen on back, but duller, no black bib, crest very small and 
brown ; breast, grey and spotted like hen linnet." 
July 1st, and the four preceding days were very cold and 
the young birds spent most of their time puffed up, with their 
heads under their wings ; a slight improvement in the weather soon 
put them I'ight however, and raised my hopes again. 
On the 8th, I first saw the young eat lettuce, and on the 
18th, both could shell seed, kill and eat meal-worms, and tliey also 
consumed a large quantity of orange and banana. 
Shortly after this I went for my holiday aii<l on my return 
on August 2r)th, ! found both youngsters full grown and healtliy ; 
they resend)le(l the cock, l)ut were of much duller hues. Thej 
have spent the whole winter out of doors, appearing to feel the cold 
even less than their parents. As I have i-ecently parted with them 
