Breeding the Spice Finches, Etc. 
113 
Tliese wee Mannikins are not l)rilliantly coloured, but are 
a charming species for the mixed aviary, being nearly always 
" in the picture," not combative, yet well able to look after 
themselves in almost any company — the latter, in the writer's 
opinion, being' a very desirable and interesting attribute. 
^lost pairs are fairly free breeders, and the young are 
readily reared on the usual hard-bill ))ic)iu. Nevertheless, some 
live insect food is desirable, making success more certain and 
their progeny vigorous and robust. 
(To he continued) . 
<>»^> 
Breeding the Spice Finch, Etc. 
By Lady Dunleath. 
Reprinted from " B.N.." December, ipoi, page 52. 
I have had my ])air of Spice Birds (Mania pnnctiilata ) for 
some years — since IcSqO, I think. In May of last year 1 turned 
all my birds out into a new outdoor aviary which 1 had made. 
In Xo. I Division I have Canaries, Ribbon Finches, Why- 
dahs, Zebra h'inches, Waxbills, Avadavats, Nuns, Bengalese, 
Parson h'inches. Saffron I'inclies, Bullfinches, Cockateels, Java 
Doves, Cordon Bleus. Si)ice Birds, Xicobar Pigeons, and one 
Scarlet Tanager, one Superb Manager, one Fontonegra and one 
Mountain I'^inch. altogether 130 birds. Before I went to Scot- 
land this autunm I had only one pair of Spice Birds, and I 
noticed one of them sitting in a travelling box-cage which was 
hung inside the aviary cottage, from the roof by a long wire (to 
prevent mice from getting at the nest). I went away at the 
beginning of August, and on returning at the end of September I 
found two young Spice Birds flying about, with fluff still on 
their heads. They are now a beautiful rich brown, and more 
clearly marked than their parents. 
T al so reared three Cordon Bleus, and they were fully 
fledged and flying about when I left home, but when I returned 
1 could only see the parents. 
