Tlic Endurance of Birds. 
231 
The Endurance of Birds. 
By Weslkv T. Pace, F.Z.S., etc. 
Continued from page 186. 
Long-tailed (Ikassfinch (Pocphila aciiticauda) . This 
is one of the nicest finches obtainable to adorn an aviary; 
l)eatiful without .^'arislniess, vivacious and alert without wild- 
ness, and, when once acclimatised, hardy and enduring. In all 
naturally planted garden aviaries a free breeder, usually rearing" 
its young without any addition to the ordinary menu of the 
aviary, that is, obtaining what live-food it requires by foraging 
within the precincts of its enclosure. To the above attractive 
qualities must be added the 'interesting and ciuaint courting 
movements, immediately preceding and during" the breeding" 
season- The nest is a rather large and untidy sphere with a 
smallish entrance hole at the front, woven together of any 
available material in the aviary, but when available grass and 
hay are chosen, the coarser blades and stems being used, 
externally and the finer for the inside, which is usually com- 
pleted by the addition of a few feathers and a little plant down. 
The incubation period is a little variable — clutches have been 
hatched in as short a i)eriod as eleven days (hot, moist season) 
and have taken as long as fourteen days: the latter period 
' occurred during very hot, dry weather. 
It is a native of Australia. 
I There is another species. Heck's L.-T. Grassfinch (P. 
hccicei ). which is similar in every respect except the beak, which 
is yellow in acuticauda and red m.heckci. Both species are sold 
by the dealers as L.T. Grassfinches. 
Masked Grassfixch (P. pcrsonata ) . A stouter built 
than the preceding species, and not so pleasing in appearance, 
but. nevertheless, an attractive bird. It is neither so vivacious 
nor so alert as acuticauda. in fact, is somewhat lethargic in 
demeanour. It has bred in many aviaries, but has not up to 
the present reared yoimg with me — while not a shy breeder, it 
has certainly not proved prolific in captivity except in the case 
of one or two individual pairs. As its domestic economy, etc., 
