58



Correspondence



BREEDING THE AUSTRALIAN EIRE FINCH 1


A pair of these beautiful birds first came into my possession in November,

1930. I soon discovered that they were not very easy to acclimatize for the

hen died a few days later. A second hen was procured, but she too went the

way of the first.


In the meantime the cock flourished, sang his quaint but rather pleasant

little song, and became thoroughly hardened, for that winter he spent outdoors

in company with Singing, Zebra, and Chestnut Finches. Moreover, his

conduct left nothing to be desired in spite of the bad character some writers

give them. In fact so far as my experience goes the only “ dangerous ”

time is when they are nesting.


In August, 1931, I managed to buy another pair. The cock looked fairly

“ seedy ”, but the hen appeared to be in the best of health. I bought them,

and as I expected the cock died before long. However, I was happy, for at

last I had a pair and what was more they soon showed signs of mutual

affection.


This being the case I decided to give them every possible opportunity

and put them in a well-sheltered aviary by themselves. They soon built

a nest in the only box provided, but to my intense disappointment only

pulled it to pieces a week later. However, before long they recommenced

operations, this time on top of the box, and from then till the time two brown

youngsters with black bills greeted me they never looked back.


Since then I have reared a good many, in fact every bird hatched has been

reared. Four eggs seem to be the average number in a clutch, and the colour

is white.


The nest has two compartments either side by side or one above the other.

The eggs are laid in one, and the male roosts in the other. Incubation is

performed by both sexes.


For food I used canary, white, mixed, and hungarian millets, grass heads,

powdered cuttlefish, and gentles. S. D. Potter.


CUBA FINCHES


It was in February, 1932, I was fortunate enough to get a pair of these

pretty and entertaining little birds. As they were in perfect condition and

the weather favourable, I soon transferred them to an outdoor aviary in

company with Gouldians, Pintailed Nonpareils, Parrot and Singing Finches.

They were immediately at home and commenced building the very next day.


The site chosen was high up in the flight so I had to place a sheet of iron

over the top to protect the nest from the weather.


The nest would be a credit to a House Sparrow and that is about all. It

is large—very large, and made principally of short pieces of hay and vegetable

down. It is completely covered and entrance is via a tube or passage that

runs in up to the nest.


Both parents sat and they are remarkably light sitters.


The egg I did not see, but on the 23rd March, 1932, four youngsters

resembling the hen in colour left the nest.


The food I use is mixed, hungarian, and white millets, canary seed, cuttle¬

fish, green stuff, and a few gentles.


Cuba Finches are very active and well able to look after themselves

among larger birds, but they are not quarrelsome and are very hardy.


S. D. Potter,


1 Generally known in Great Britain as the Crimson Finch. —Ed.



