TJic Endurance of Birds. 
185 
species with which otic may reasonably expect success in a 
roomy, naturahy planted aviary. 
It is a very pretty species, hardy and endurini;', and 
adorns any aviary. It has rather a reputation for pugnacity, 
hut this has not been my experience ; nevertheless, it is a species 
to be kept under close observation till the character of any 
individual jiair be ascertained, especially it the aviary or 
birdroom be rather small and fully stocked, thougli much 
depends upon the amount of cover. 
In its native wilds it frequents open, grassy areas, and 
builds its nest among the long grass. In captivity it usually 
builds in a bush a few feet above the ground, or constructs its 
nest in a box or husk. The nest is a rough, rather untidy sphere 
with an entrance hole at the front. The hens are rather subject 
to egg-binding. 
Sexes are much alike in plumage and not easy to 
determine, but the hen has a smaller bib and the grey of head of 
a slightly darker hue than that of the male. 
It is a native of Xortli-Eastern and Southern Australia. 
CiuEY Finch (SpcrnwphUa grisca). The small grosbeaks 
Sf'cniiof'Iiilac and their near allies have interested me greatly; 
though not of showy plumage, they yet are very neat, attractive 
and pretty birds, moreover most of them are sweet songsters 
and hardy — my original male is still living and has been out of 
doors all the year round since he hrst came into my possession 
in 1910. 
They are not free breeders; very few species of 
SpcrniopliUa have been bred in cai)tivity, and that mostly in 
isolated instances, but 1 must state that, except for the W hite- 
throated and Guttural Finches, this group has never been 
common in our aviaries. 
I first bred the species in 1911, when two young were 
reared, but the following year two broods of three each were 
fully reared. Three eggs formed the clutch on each occasion. 
One nest was placed in a privet bush— the nest was a deep 
