244 
Some Birds I have Kept. 
nuptial robes, and does not for^-et to show himself off. but we 
forgive him this little weakness as it keeps him in the picture, 
an object of admiration to all observers. The Queen (this 
name belon,L;-s to both male and female) is of a more retirin.g- 
disposition, thoui^h even more beautiful than the Paradise; still, 
it is not a skulker amid the folia.^e, and is nearly always on view, 
when one walks alon.g', or sits at, the aviary front — and this 
applies when one is renewini;" food supplies. 
Diet and g'eneral treatment, same as for Weavers. 
Waxbills : These charming;- wee mites are ideal subjects 
for the mixed aviary, and mostly may be kept together in any 
n.umber commensurate with the size of the aviary, i.e., several 
pairs of the same species may be kept together, providing they 
have space to go to nest, if they so desire, without treading on 
■' each other's toes." 
Among others I have kept the following species, and 
have bred those marked with an asterisk. 
* Common Avadavat (S poraegiiitlms aiiiaiidai'a). 
* Orange-cheeked Waxbill (.S". melpodus). 
* Gold-breasted Waxbill {S. subflaz'us). 
Sydney Waxbill (/Egijitha temporalis). 
* St. Helena Waxbill (Hstrilda asfrilda). 
(irey Waxbill {E. eiiierea). 
Blue-breasted Waxbill (R. aiigolensis). 
Violet-eared Waxbill (Graiiatina grauatina). 
I have also kept several of the rarer species, and the one- 
time common Green Avadavat. 
Waxbills are not, speaking generally, free breeders in 
captivity, though casual successes are by no means uncommon. 
I will instance a few. 
The Common or Indian Avadavat has bred in my 
aviaries, and also in those of Capt. J. S. Reeve and others. 
The Orange-cheeked has reared young on one occasion 
m my aviary, and has been successfully bred in a cage by the 
latv Miss Rosie Alderson. 
The Blue-breasted Waxbill has been rather freely bred by 
Dr. Amsler, who has also successfully crossed it with the 
Cordon Bleu. 
The Sydney Waxljill has been freely bred by Mrs. Stanley 
Gardiner, and less so by others. 
