Mrs. Wharton Tigar—Notes from a London Aviary 23


the time. This happened in July, and the hen began to moult soon

after, which put an end to their courtship. Later, if the weather

had not turned so cold, forcing me to remove them indoors, I feel

confident that their fancy would have gently turned to thoughts

of love.


The Red-eyed Crimson-wings ( Cryptospiza reichenowi sanguino-

lenta) are gentle and somewhat retiring in the aviary. My pair

attempted nesting, but the cock sickened suddenly and was only

restored to health by a careful course of mealworms soaked in olive

oil. After this they did not attempt to nest again, although they

were always together.


My pair of Purple Grenadier Waxbills ( Granatina ianthino-

gaster ianthinogaster) were very fit and eager to go to nest from

early in the season but seemed unable to fix upon a site for their

nest; eventually this difficulty was overcome, and they nested three

times. On the last occasion three eggs were laid, but the birds

deserted. When I examined the eggs I found three dead chicks,

nearly ready to hatch.


My greatest hopes were centred all the summer upon a pair of

Pytelia afra— the Red-faced Waxbill. They were in exceptionally

fine condition and most eager to nest. They started in May and

made the usual domed nest among twiggy dead branches hanging

in the aviary. The nest seemed small for the size of the birds, but

they sat well, and all went merrily until their one youngster was

14 days old, and then one morning I found him dead in the

nest. The birds began again at once and my hopes ran high. But,

alas! the same thing happened and I found three youngsters dead

in the nest when two weeks old. This occurred in all four times.

The last time I removed the three fertile eggs and placed them

under a good pair of Bengalese which had successfully reared

Gouldians and Diamond Sparrows. At exactly the same period the

youngsters died. Each time I supplied every food I knew of for

rearing the young birds, including absolutely fresh ants’ eggs. As

these birds nest in the rainy season in the wilds the want of moisture

may possibly have been the cause of these disasters.


My Violet-eared Waxbills ( Granatina granatina), Blue-headed



