i84 
The Endurance of Birds. 
Since writiny the above 1 Iiave lost my little flock of these 
interesting birds. The cock nnist have found some hole in the 
wire, which up to the present, although 1 have searched 
diligently. I have been unable to locate. Through this he must 
have enticed his mates, and they are now enjoying freedom. The 
last time I saw them they were feeding on some growing oats in 
a near-by rickyard. Strange to say, none of the small English 
birds in the aviary with them have yet found their way out. 
August 5tli : 1 an: pleased to state that I have now 
recaptured the Whydahs, and they are none the worse for their 
short spell of liberty. — W.S.B. 
<»"f<) 
The Endurance of Birds. 
By Weslf.v T. P.\ge, F.Z.S.. etc. 
( Conliinicd fruin page i/i ). 
I'aksox i'"i.\ci[ ( J'oc l^liila c iiicta ) .—Tlus species is very 
similar in colouration and markings to the Long-tailed 
(irassflnch (P. acuticauda), but may be easily distinguished 
therefrom by its slightly stouter-build and shorter tail. It has 
been known to aviculture much longer than acuticauda. and at 
one time was fairly frequently imported and in fair numbers, 
but with the advent of acuficauda there was a falling off in the 
numbers to be met with on the market, and it became almost 
unconniion. 
In the past, when fairly lunuerous. instances of the 
successful rearing of young were pretty connnon, but of late 
years the few i)airs in the hands of aviculturists ha\'e not 
proved prolific breeders. ;ind it has been only a pair here and 
there that has yielded any result. One pair nested twice in th.c 
same year with me, and successfully reared the young, but this 
has been my only success with this species, but 1 have only 
possessed alxnit three adult pairs in my avicultural exj^erience. 
and. when 1 kejit them in the earlier days my acconnnodation 
was limited and usually overstocked, and not calculated to 
encourage them to reproduce their kind. It is, however, a 
