My Aviaries and Birds. 
a hen Cape Canary— the hen Canary is bright yellow 1 Tiiree 
more infertile clutches have since been laid. 
St. JiioLENA Waxbills (Estrilda astrilda). The Wax- 
bills have been the encouraging feature of the year with me. 
A nest was built entirely of hay in June and eggs were laid, 
but got destroyed. But they soon made a fresh start— another 
nest of hay was completed about July 3rd, and eggs were duly 
deposited. This time all went well, bath parents siiarcd the 
duties of incubation, and live young chicks were hatched out 
tibout July 27th. On August 14th they all left the nest, being 
quite strong on the wing, and were really finely developed 
young birds. Both parents assiduously fed the chicks, which 
were reared on millet, gentles, and ants' eggs. On August 18th 
they began to feed themselves. One young bird died on 
August 29th, but the other four are all in perfect condition. 
Altogether in the flight, this little flock of " Roodebecs " wei-e 
most delightful and charming to watch. I have taken the 
parents and two of their young into the house, where they 
occupy a roomy cage. The other two young birds I purpose 
leaving out through the winter. 
These charming and interesting birds are also known 
as Red-bellied Waxbills and Pheasant Finches. 
Am AD A VATS ( Sporoeginthus amandava). 1 liave two pairs 
of this delightful species, but the hens only came into my 
possession on June 5th. The cocks were almost in the full 
brilliance of nuptial plumage on July 12th. 
No. 1 pair built a tiny spherical nest in the shed at- 
tached to the flight, and by August lUth were engaged in 
incubating a clutch of five eggs; both sexes sharing this 
duty; five young chicks were hatched out on September 6th. 
On September 15th, four young birds left the nest, 
but one died on the ground only half fledged, the other three 
are now quite strong and fending for themselves. For the 
first two or three nights they slept in the nest, retiring there 
about 4 p.m., in this they dift'er from the St. Helenas, who 
nevei- returned to the nest after the day they left it so far as 
my observations went. They were reared on similar food 
to the St. Helenas— the supply of ants' eggs and gentles not 
being so large. 
