Breeding the Black-cap Lory. 
But, of course, the crowniny y!o:y is success in breeding 
them, especially in being the first to breed a given species and 
so win a F.B.C. breeding medal, and, I think, with my Black- 
caps I have achieved this satisfactory result. 
My pair only came to me in November last (ex the 
Marquis of Tavistock). They are a most perfect and gifted 
pair and absolutely devoted to each other — a perfect " Darby 
and Joan." 
Hope and doubt were very much mixed at first, for the 
first egg was laid (April 2nd) outside the box ; I replaced it 
twice. I then thought, as the hen did not sit, that the egg had 
been eaten — I could not look into the box to satisfy myself, as 
the cock bird had become quite savage. Then on May 4th hope 
predominated, for another egg was laid, and from that date the 
hen has only come out to feed, and, her hunger satisfied, 
returned to the box at once. The cock bird entered and 
remained in the box each night. 
About June 5th the hen was more frequently out of the 
nest and for longer intervals, and on June 8th a young bird 
was seen in the nest; the interior of the nest is very dark, and 
it was not easy to see its contents, as examination had to be 
made from outside the flight. The squab when first seen was 
about the size of a day-old chick and sparsely covered with 
golden-coloured down or hair; its crop was full, but only a 
quick glance was possible, and I have described just what I saw 
in the dim liglit of the interior of the nest. 
Un June 15th I left home for a fortnight; while away 1 
heard that there were two, perhaps more, baby Black-caps. As 
stated above, the first egg was laid on April Jnd, and another 
on May 4th ; apparently others were laid later, as one could 
liardly look for the first egg to hatch, seeing tliat it was laid a 
month before the second egg. Yet on June 8th the first baby 
was seen, and on June 28th two were seen, and a broken shell of 
a third egg was seen outside the nest, so there may be a third 
baby from this egg — how many eggs were laid in all I am unable 
as yet to state. 
On July 2nd one l^aby flew out of the nest at me when I 
looked in. This young bird is about the size of its parents, but 
