20



Cor re sp on d ence



CRIMSON OR BLOOD FINCHES

Extracts from Letters received from Australia


“ I think the best plan to follow re the Blood Finches is to leave them to

themselves making the aviary as private as possible. They like a small nest-

box such as an old boot or jam tin or a hollow log. White ants are the best

live food but above all, do not look at them or at their nest. If you watch

some birds when nesting they will leave it and that may be the trouble that

they are not easy to breed. Tell the members to put their eggs under Zebras.

I bred a few in town and they built in a jam tin hanging on the wall.

Hungarian millet seed is the best for them. 55



“ I have your letter, reference Blood Finches. You will find it fairly

difficult to get them to breed the first time but once they are started they

will be alright. I would suggest that you pair them off separately and keep

the room at a warmer degree as 65° seems very low. They breed here in

January, February, and March, and that is in our wet season when the

humidity is very high and probably if you could arrange to have your breeding

cage a little humid it might help matters. They are very fond of ants and

consequently in my cages, which are on ground level, there are always plenty

of ants travelling backwards and forwards. Mealworms should give the

same results.’ 5



