or Blue-headed Parrot Finches



309



Pair.



Supplied.



Not supplied.



Result.



No. 1.


Old pair which

reared three

young in 1931.



Canary Seed.

White Millet.

Indian Millet.

Soaked Seed.



Mealworms.

Insectile Mixture.

Cod-liver Oil

Canary Seed.



One nest of four eggs,

three of which were

fertile; two hatched,

one died second day,

and one on the

third.



No. 2.


Hen 1931 bred

by No. 1 pair ;

cock imported.



Canary Seed.

White Millet.

Indian Millet.

Sprays of Millet.

Insectile Mixture,

while rearing

young only.



Meal Worms.


Cod-liver Oil

Canary Seed.


Insectile Mixture,

except while

actually feeding

young.



Four nests of four,

three, two, and two

eggs. Refused to sit

on first nest, two of

which were fertile.

Two eggs clear in

second; hatched


and reared the third.

Remaining two nests

clear eggs. Young

bird died at three

months old and was

thin on examination.



No. 3.


Hen 1931 bred

by No. 1 pair;

cock imported,

also two odd

cocks in the

aviary.



Canary Seed.

White Millet.

Indian Millet. 1


Sprays of Millet.

Insectile Mixture.

Mealworms.

Cod-liver Oil

Canary Seed.

Soaked Seeds.


i





Two nests of four eggs

each; four young

hatched in each case.

First nest in long

grass in flight.


Thunder shower


drowned the lot when

doing well. Second

nest all four reared

to independence.



All of these pairs are Red-headed. The Blue-heads were fed as No. 3

pair. It can be imagined that as the season progressed it was found

very difficult to stick to the plan.



so it is not really a fair test as the hen was disturbed. It should be

noted, however, that on examination all four eggs were chipped, which

was a healthy sign.


In spite of the feeling that these notes are much too long, I think

attention should be drawn to another point. It is this : although in

the spring (weather being favourable, of course) the birds may be

turned into their outdoor aviary without any particular precautions



