Prebendary J. E. Sweetnam—Notes from a Somerset Aviary 305


be successfully incubated, and the young reared, by Bengalese and that,

so reared, the young are no slower to reach independence or in any

way inferior to those reared by their own parents.


In my experience, this does not apply to Cherry Finches, the young

of which were much longer leaving the nest, and generally weaker and

longer in reaching independence, when hatched and reared by Bengalese.

After deserting the young of their first two nests, my Cherry Finches

turned over a new leaf, having since proved exemplary parents, and

successfully reared three small broods since June : they are now

incubating again. This is a fascinating and entirely inoffensive species

which one hopes will be more freely imported and bred in future. They

are as easily catered for as Parson Finches and require no live food when

feeding their young. My pair constructed all their nests in clumps

of bracken fixed in wide-mesh netting, placed high up in the aviary.


In comparison to seven young reared by one (imported) pair last

season (and these obtained only about August) Red-headed Parrot

Finches have been, so far, rather disappointing this season but they are

rather late breeders, and it is quite probable some late nests will improve

the present rather poor average. Two of my four pairs were late-hatched

last season, and therefore rather immature for successful breeding this,

but I am inclined to believe the results would have been better had

I been able to provide separate aviary accommodation for each pair.

I do not think breeding results need necessarily be affected by the

inclusion of other small hardbills in the same aviary—provided, of

course, there is no overcrowding—but cock Red Heads in high breeding

condition are liable to harass other cocks, especially when they are

pairing, and so tend to produce the infertile eggs which, rather than

unwillingness to lay and incubate, was my chief trouble this season.


For the first time since keeping the species I have lost some young

at the critical stage of a week or so after leaving the nest and when

reaching the independence of their parents. With four pairs together

in different stages of breeding activities it is difficult to avoid desertion

by a pair wanting to go to nest again immediately but, with one pair

to an aviary, I think the difficulty could be overcome by cutting down

stimulating food for a week or so until the critical period has passed

and the young were feeding themselves. Greater experience with



