Further Notes oil the Breeilii/fj of 'I'anager.s . 1")') 
before they were strong enough to Ihitter through the windows 
into tlic shelter liouse. Up till now their ])rogi'ess had Ivcen 
about equal, but soin(! days afttM'wards I found that one of 
them was always on the lloor, while the other could lly for 
quite a considerable distance. The latter also developed much 
more rapidly, which I think entirely due to the exei-cise, for 
the parents arc most impartial in their feeding. What has 
happened to the little one I don't (luite know, but it has 
apparently lost what one would consider a bird's jirinuil in- 
stinct, viz., the ability to perch. There appears to be some 
contracture of the toes, so that, while the little liird can 
stand up all right, its toes are always doubled up and tightly 
clenched; so much so that even if they are opened out and 
put round a small branch, it will only sit there for a 
minute or so, then whenever it changes it-s position the toes 
double up again like a clenched fist, and of course the little 
creature drops down on to the lloor. This is all the more 
curious as it could perch quite well when it left the nest. 
"Whether it is due to some injury I do not know, but I make 
a point of, as it Wi^re, undoing its feet every day, in the 
hope that it will prevent a permanent contraction, and that 
eventually it will be able to regain its power, otherwise 
it is doing fairly well and can fiy shoil distances, though, of 
course, it can only alight on the floor. 
From the time the youngsters were hatched the parents 
have been most assiduous in their care of them. How much 
live insect food they get for themselves I do not know, but 
the only other food I have seen given has been mealworms, 
and these in abundance — and also some of the boiled biscuit 
food which is daily provided for the soft-bills. Both little 
birds resemble their mother in colouring, being of a dark 
reddish brown. The stronger of the two pursues its parents 
all round the aviary for food, and I hope, by the, time these 
notes are through the printer's hands, it will lie able to f-ater 
for itself, and so fulfil the F.B.C. law on what is meant by 
" breeding a species in captivity." 
Later (June 1st). — The young bird refcn-ed to above, with 
crippled feet, died on May 2<Sth during the cold wet weather, 
which followed the dry period. The other continued to thrive 
and was fending for itself on May 29th, 
