266 H. S. Sewell—Breeding Notes from TooraJc, South Australia,


and is lined with grass, then feathers. It is placed in a thick bush.

The eggs number from two to three, and are buff-pink, sparsely spotted

with rich brcwn and a little purplish grey.


I should imagine that if obtained in good condition both the White-

bearded and Spine-bill Honeyeaters would be very easy to maintain

in captivity. Some specimens of the Spine-bill which I saw a few weeks-

ago in a London store looked rather the worse for their journey. There

is, however, a lovely specimen in the newly fitted-out natural forest

aviary in the Small Bird’s House at the London Zoo. This was pre¬

sented to the Society by the Hon. Anthony Chaplin some years ago.

I have often admired it.


Incidentally, why is there nowhere to sit down in the Small Bird’s

House ? I am seriously considering taking a deck chair with me next

time I go there as a formal protest !



BREEDING NOTES FROM TOORAK,

SOUTH AUSTRALIA


By H. S. Sewell


Once again I have the pleasure of recording my breeding successes

from 1st July, 1935, to 30th June, 1936.


Melba Finch (Pytelia melba ).—I must admit that this species had

me puzzled for over a season on account of continual failures. I always

encouraged these birds to nest under cover, and in the majority of

cases the young were dead in the shell. This finally led me to believe

that insufficient moisture was obtained for the natural development

of the young. I then liberated this particular pair into a large garden

aviary, where they nested straight away, and eventually raised three

strapping youngsters. When only a week out of their nest, the cock

built again, this time raising two more. From the following nest,

No. 3, three more young ones flew, but at this stage trouble began.

The young Melbas from the first nest had coloured up. Unfortunately

I discovered too late that the old birds were busily occupying their

time chasing them round their 50 ft. flight most of the day, neglecting

the three latest fledglings, which obviously died of starvation. I would,



