'64:2 My Aviaries and Birds. 
signs or breeding, but the hen died egg -bound on tiepLenibei' 
14th, the cock is now perfect and in buautilul plumage. 
Hooded ISiskin (Chrysomitris cucullata). L Iwuglit a 
nice cock at Wilson's on May 2(Jth, but have been unable to 
pz'ocure a hen, it is now in fine condition, with very tight and 
silken plumage. 
Pklzeln's Saffron Finch (tiycalis peLzehii). These 
shewed signs oi' breeding, but some weeks after I Ipickcd the hen 
up dead — I had missed her and thought she was nesting 
somewhere. 
Bluk-winged LovEBiiiDS (I'sittacula passeriua). The 
proper name for this species is Passerine Parrakeets but they 
are more popularly known as Blue -winged Lovebirds. They 
showed signs of nesting about the end of May; just at this 
time 1 was called away for three weeks and found them on 
my return in a very emaciated and dishevelled condition — 1 
cannot imagine what brought this about — the cock died but 
the hen recovered and I have since procured her another mate, 
but they do not seem to take to each other yet very lovingly. 
St. Helena Waxbills (Estrilda astrilda). These had 
two or three nests, but all to no purpose. 
The covert in tliis, my old or indoor aviary, is evidently 
not natural enough to induce Finches, Waxbills, etc. to nest. 
OuT-DooK Aviaby: After the above tale of woe I will 
relate my experiences in the open aviary, built last autumn, 
and occupied this spring. Here I have kept — 
1 Grenadier Weaver S 1 St. Helena Seed-eater i 
1 Napoleon Weaver S 2 pairs Avadavats. 
1 pair Red-headed Weavers 1 pair St. Helena Waxbills 
1 pair Cape Canaries 1 pair Chinese Painted Quail 
1 Canary ? 
GKENADiEii Weaver (Pyromelana oryx). This cock 
paired up with a hen Weaver (species unknown). He built three 
nests, in the last of which the hen deposited two eggs and died 
with the third from inflammation of the oviduct on July 3rd. It 
was then very cold. 
Cross Mating: The hen canary paired up with the cock 
Cape Canary, and a nest was constructed early in April — 
the first clutch was infertile; a second clutch was duly laid 
and about May 2Gth, a young chick was hatched out and fully 
reared. The young hybrid is hardly to be distinguished from 
