52



P. B. Webb—Parrot Finches



of the nest, and were flying about like feathered bullets, smashing

against the wire division in their house till the place was in a perfect

pandemonium.


Now, at this time the weather was very showery, and I spent a

week in fear and trembling that they would get out into the aviary

and get caught in the rain. Every time a shower came on I was to be

seen heading for the aviary and catching the young birds and replacing

them in the sheds.


The hole from the shed to the flight was reduced to 3 by 3

inches, but it was no good, in five minutes they were out again.


Perhaps I wasted my time, I do not know, but several times a shower

of rain has left young Zebra Finches dead in my aviary, and no chances

were being taken, in spite of the fact that Parrot Finches seemed to

me as hard as nails.


At the end of a week all was* well, and the youngsters had gained

enough knowledge of the world to know when and how to get out of

harm’s way.


Perhaps I should mention that the young birds were rather a

dirty green colour, lighter underneath, with black upper mandible

and yellow under. Their tails were short and almost black, very little

red to be seen at first. One bird was quite red-headed, while the other

two had only about six red feathers each. I wonder, will they turn

out to be hens ?


All had the curious blobs on the sides of their bills, a large one

and a small on each side. Even the small ones are larger than those

found on young Gouldians.


Their legs were very dark yellowish grey, but paler than the

adult bird.


My old birds were fed during the winter on canary seed, white

and spray millet, and about two mealworms per head once a week.

They seemed to do well, and were in perfect feather, except when in

the moult. They are fond of spray millet and canary, but took very

little white millet. They were offered “ paddy ” rice and though they

consumed a little they seemed to throw 90 per cent of it about, so I

gave it up. I don’t like this seed anyway, so it was a relief to me that

they were not strong on it either. They also had before them from

the time they were turned out, a small dish of insectivorous food, which



