TJic Endurance of Birds. 
subsUinlial. cu[)-shapcd structure — well sheltered by a densely 
foliaged hazel bush. The incubation period was thirteen days 
and for the hrst week the young were ai)parently fed entirely 
on live food, but on the tenth day I observd the parent birds go 
straight from the soft-food dish and feed their progeny. The 
young birds were very precocious and were soon fending for 
themselves {I'idc Bird Notes for 1913, p. 139). 
The second nest was placed in the llowering head of a 
large dock, and the details were much as above, but the young 
birds only survived their exit from the nest about one month 
The autumn and early winter of 1912 was very wet, and it proved 
very fatal to many young birds in my aviary, besides the Grey 
Finches, and, when one of the Zoo-keepers assisted me in the 
usual Spring clean in the following year, many bodies were 
taken from nest-boxes and small barrels, including those of 
several Grey and Guttural Finches. 
H.MiiTAT : British Guiana to \'ene7,uela ; Trinidad and 
Colombia, extending to Panama. 
GuTTUR.M, Finch (S. gitititralis ) . This pleasing species 
is dull olive-green above ,and yellowish-white beneath. 
yiy pair of Gutturals bred successfully, also in 191 2, and 
the nesting data were similar to those of 6". grisca and need not 
be repeated {z'idc Bird Notes for 1913, p. 142). 
I did not find the (iuttural h'inch so hardy as the Grey 
Finch, but a severe dry winter did not appear to cause them any 
discomfort or hurt, but a mildish wet one certainly did, and, if 
not given dry (artificial heat not required) indoor accommoda- 
tion promptly, soon succumbed, mostly from pneumonia. 
IIaiui at: Brazil, (luiana, Venezuela. Colombia, extend- 
ing to Panama, Ecuador, and Peru. 
The Spcniiophilac are seed-eaters, but are very keen on 
live insects, of which they take as many as they can get; but. 
except when feeding young, their visits to the soft-food dish are 
very occasional. 
(To he coiitiiiitcd.) 
