278 
Breedi?)g of the Hooded Siskin. 
Breeding of the Hooded Siskin. 
{Chrysuinitris cucullnta). 
By Dr. M. Amslbr. 
In March IW[), I bought a pair of these charming birds 
from a felh)\v aviculturist: tliey arrived quite lively and well, but, 
the cock, as I had been warned, was " a trifle thick as he had not 
quite finished his moult." 
As a matter of fact this was his normal condition, for he 
was never as slim and tight in feather as his neat little mate. This 
pair spent the warmer nine months of 1909, 1910 and 1911, in an 
open aviary with plenty of opportunities for nesting, but although 
they were obviously on very good terms, and never far from each 
other, we got no further than volumes of sweet music from the 
male, and once, I think, an attempt on the part of the female to 
build a nest; on the latter point, I am, however, uncertain, as there 
was a very mixed collection in the aviary at that time. 
The whole of last winter the cock, who was obviously aged, 
and very puffy and asthmatical, and as spring approached his con- 
dition did not improve, I took the opportunity when in Bordeaux 
of buying two cocks, in perfect condition and feather, which I 
brought back to England. 
On my arrival, I found as I expected, that the old cock had 
departed this life, and I therefore introduced one of the new 
•comers to my hen. As I have this year changed my house and 
have had to build new Aviaries the birds were not turned out until 
July 7. 
The Siskins shared an aviary with Gouldian Finches, 
Ruficaudasi Avadavats and other Waxbills. 
Almost the first day I noticed the hen carrying, but nothing 
more happened, and my hopes fell again to zero, for I could picture 
one of Mr. Hubert Astley's beautiful little hens busy at work, and 
rol)l)ing us of the medal. In the middle of July the hen was 
moulting, but the cock was still in perfect feather and very atten- 
tive to his spouse, frecpiently feeding her from the crop. On 
August 24th, I again noticed the hen earring bits of felt which I 
had given the Avadavats as a lining to their nests. She was con- 
tinually going in ami out of a nest box, hung up near the roof of 
the shelter, ))ut she always emerged with the nesting material still 
in her bill and therefore got no " forrader." The following day I 
