56



Dr. E. Hopkinson—Breeding Results at Balcombe



Canary hatched from two nests. One still alive. 1933 : The same.

1934 : No young, but the two earlier mules still flourishing.


Alario Finch. —1932 : One mule, Alario X Green Singing Finch,

reared and still alive, December, 1934. It is an ugly all-brown bird,

more like a hen Alario than anything, but cannot be that, as this

cock is the only bird of the species I have ever had.


Yellow Sparrow. —One pair 1934, three nests. First, eggs only ;

second, three young hatched, which when about ten days old and

showing three long clamouring necks and fat bodies died from neglect,

and having a third nest built over them ; from this one young bird

flew in October and is still alive and indoors for the winter.


Grey Cardinal and Popes. —A very old cock Grey Cardinal

which I have had since 1922 and which has been twice to Africa and

back was given two hen Popes in 1932. Two well-made nests were

built (mostly the work of the cock) and two clutches of eggs laid, both

hens sitting a little, but not for long and nothing resulted. 1933 :

Only rough nests and an odd egg or two. 1934 : Neither nests nor any

inclination to breed, but the three old birds still thrive.


Cordon Bleus. —1930 : Seven survivors of birds I had brought

from Gambia, five cocks and two hens. 1932 : Three survivors, all

cocks and all at least five years old. 1933 : One paired with a new

hen : eggs only. 1934 : A new pair built three nests and laid three

clutches of eggs but none hatched, or, if any did hatch, only lived a

day or so.


Zebra Finches. —1932 : One old pair and two young hens. The pair

had young hatched but killed by a Budgerigar. 1933 : Two pairs ;

both nested; about a dozen young left the nest but only three of

the young were alive in November. 1934 : Two pairs nested, one in

the big aviary with a crowd of other birds, one in a small aviary to

themselves. Many hatched and fourteen young flew ; nine young and

the two old pairs still alive, December. One of the pairs had two

nests of four young in each, but in each family there was one deformed

bird with no bastard-wing, which soon died.



