110 Breeding Notes from New Zealand and Australia


one by one, usually when a few days old, and placing them at the far

end of the aviary in a heap where, if not seen in time, the ants would

quickly kill them. I believe this procedure is adopted by most Finches

and Waxbills from time to time, and that incorrect feeding or inter¬

ference with their nests is usually the trouble. However, I finally

reared two birds which turned out to be hens. These are now about

fifteen months old.


The next species I concentrated on was the Scaly Crowned Weaver

(Sporopipes squamifrons), habitat Africa, sometimes called Moustache

Finch. To-day, this bird is more of a rarity, as are most of the South

African Finches. The markings on the head are black and grey,

resembling scales. It also has a black throat with markings not unlike

a drooping moustache, hence this bird’s two names. I do not know

if this bird has been bred in England, but I should imagine so, as I

have found them most prolific. In each case they nested in logs.

Their eggs are pale green, heavily speckled with brown. The most

remarkable nest I had from this species was of six eggs and six

youngsters raised. Altogether, I reared fourteen young, and eventually

disposed of the entire family, as I wanted room for new species. They

have very little to recommend them as to colour, although they are

uncommonly marked. They are very active birds, being extremely

noisy and, incidentally, quarrelsome.


The Giant Magpie (Amauresthes Fringilloides), habitat Africa, is

another variety which have done well for me this year, having bred

eight young to date, and the parents still nesting. These also have very

little to recommend them as to colour, and they have, of course, no

song. Their courting dance is most peculiar. With his elongated

neck, the cock bird vibrates his beak in such a manner as to put me

in mind of a snake darting his tongue (readers may think my imagina¬

tion a trifle vivid). A Fringilloides lays four white eggs, and I consider

them reasonably prolific and extremely hardy. The oldest of my

young birds is nearly twelve months.


The White-headed Mannikin ( Munia maja). This common but

attractive little bird is so well known that description is unnecessary.

Incidentally, I consider this species one of the hardest :o breed. Con¬

sidering the thousands that are sold, very few indeed are bred. I was



