P. B. Webb—Parrot Finches



53



is supplied for my Shamas. They were on the look-out for this

every morning, though they only ate small quantities of it. I have

found the same treatment very suitable for the blue-headed variety

(trichroa).


The first nestlings were flying about two weeks when the second

nest was started. Again a straw hat was used, it was also in the shed,

but was only about 18 inches from the ground. It also had two stories,

but something went wrong, and though it had very definitely

a basement, the ceiling gave way a bit, so it was apparently decided to

use only the floor above, and in this three more white eggs were laid.

I discovered this when inspecting the nest on the tenth day of incuba¬

tion. This is where the big blunder happened. Entering the shed on

this morning the bird left the nest.


Thinking this a good chance to have a peep inside, I closed the

entrance to the flight, so that I could do the job unobserved by the old

birds. The eggs were there, and I was satisfied. About two hours later

it suddenly struck me that I had not reopened the slide to the flight.

I hurried home, only to find that this was correct. The birds returned

to the nest, and in due course one young bird hatched, it lived three

days, and the old birds had stopped brooding it.


Next morning the birds had started sitting on the two unhatched

eggs again, I let them sit for two more days just to make sure that this

was really so.


On removing the eggs, both had birds in them, but, of course, dead.

I paid dearly for my forgetfulness, but is it usual for birds to start

sitting again like this ?


At this time the old birds were well in the moult, and therefore

the nesting hats, etc. were removed for the season.


Perhaps of the many things learned about these birds, the most

interesting are as follows :—


(1) That out of eleven old birds imported, only one turned out to

be a hen.


(2) That though there were several odd cocks in the aviary, they

gave no trouble at all during the breeding season.


(3) Mr. Seth-Smith is right, they do like straw hats.


(4) When birds are nesting, mind your own business, as even if

the birds don’t mind you being “ nosey ” you may make a slip.



