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R. James—Rearing British Finches



left with a supply of earwigs. I have never known them feed their

young on anything but insects.


The first eggs I ever had from Yellow Buntings were forsaken

before the clutch was complete : this happened because I was curious

enough, and foolish enough, to try to make the site more secluded.

They made no other attempt to nest that year. On another occasion

a full clutch of eggs were deserted because I was curious enough to

have a peep, after they had been incubating for eight days. On the

last occasion three chicks hatched out and lived for seven days.

I dare not risk trying to provide extra food in the same way as the

Chaffinches were supplied; therefore the Buntings could not get enough

of the required food to feed and rear a brood of three. In the same

aviary were a pair each of Chaffinches, Reed Buntings, and Indian

Buntings. The Reed and Y ellow Buntings do not agree in the breeding

season, in an aviary. The Buntings built their nest between two old

tree stumps, only a few inches from the ground.


Control breeding does not appeal to me, half the charm is lost by

this method, and the chances are, to my way of thinking, almost as

heavily handicapped. In a small aviary, either the urge does not

last long enough for successful rearing, or the birds become bored,

and so develop unnatural habits, such as floor laying, egg breaking,

egg eating, or chicks thrown out of the nest. A healthy brawl with

a neighbour seems to inspire the birds to carry on. If a cock Finch can

defend his nest against something tangible, the breeding urge will

last, but when there is little space to afford interest, and no other

birds for him to drive away, he is likely to get bored, or have a “ brain¬

storm The confirmed “ control breeder 5 ’ cannot be expected to take

this summing-up seriously. I can only state that I have seen British

Finches act in the way mentioned. The Goldfinch especially loves to

quarrel and bicker at such times, but if he has nothing to do except

guard his hen from nothing, then he is likely to become uncon¬

ventional.



