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Norman G. Allison — St. Helena Seed-eaters



Sclater’s Crowned Pigeon is found in Central and South New

Guinea, it was met with by the British Ornithologists’ Union Expedition

in Dutch New Guinea, large numbers were killed for food, as it appeared

almost the only fresh meat to be had. A description of its habits will

be found in the Avicultural Magazine, 1929, p. 163. It has nested

for several years in Mr. G. H. Gurney’s aviaries at Keswick Hall,

where young have been hatched, but not reared.


ST. HELENA SEED-EATERS BREEDING

SUCCESSFULLY IN A CAGE


By Norman G. Allison


Perhaps the following account of the success I have attained in

the breeding of St. Helena Seed-eaters (Serinus flaviventris) in an

ordinary canary breeding cage may be of interest to members. I do

not suppose for a moment that this is the first time that this species

has been bred in captivity, either in an aviary or cage, but my pair

have produced their youngsters under quite adverse conditions, and

as these Seed-eaters are very good songsters and really quite attractive

birds altogether they are well worth breeding.


All my foreign birds are brought in for the winter months, and the

sexes separated so that there is less risk of them attempting to breed

during the inclement months. Towards the end of February the hen

Seed-eater commenced to lay, although she was separated from the

cock bird and in a cage together with a hen Green Singing Finch and

a cock Grassfinch. She laid three eggs on the floor of the cage, and

I then hoped that she would not attempt further breeding until the

better weather arrived. However, towards the middle of March she

again showed signs of desiring to go to nest so, after a little juggling

with cages, etc., I succeeded in clearing a canary breeding cage of its

inmates and in one corner fixed up an ordinary wooden travelling

cage, and in the other a Hartz-mountain wicker cage in which I placed

a nest-pan with felt lining. The cage in question is about 3 feet

in length.


The introduction of the cock Seed-eater caused me a little consterna¬

tion as he was most hostile towards his future bride, and spent most



