230 F. E. Matthews—Hand Rearing Long-tailed Grass Finches


be left severely alone, I carried out this precaution so far as to be

unaware of which nests out of several the pairs had chosen. I did not

scent trouble until I noticed one hen was constantly out with the

two cocks. To my dismay on looking, I found the hen in the Keston

box was dead. She had laid a few eggs, and the “ restless one ” was the

mother of four nestlings. In spite of repeated admonitions from her

mate she continued to amuse herself, and the babies who had started

well were making no sound, and were all unfed—by another day all

would have died.


What to do ? The Bengalese could not be called in at this stage.

I decided to bring them indoors and hand feed. One bird was about

a week old showing signs of feather, and the smallest, just out, would

have gone into a thimble. The date was 4th June. Their new home was

a little rush basket. In three weeks all could use their wings, and the

older ones fly round the room. They can seed-feed themselves now,

and do. But they see fit to call out directly they see me for their

former diet. Sitting close together on a perch in a large cage, they keep

eyes fixed on my movements. When all is ready out they come, the

older ones taxiing round in a circle to descend to my hand—sometimes

they overshoot the mark. Then they stand in a circle on the floor

waiting to be picked up. They are very easy to feed, possessing small

tongues which resemble the stamen of a flower, they use these to great

purpose and lose very little. Their parents are hatching another family

meanwhile (the unattached cock having been removed all should

go well). Few people will trouble to hand feed—resign themselves to

the loss. Should any reader have Finches more valuable than mine

which they desire to save by hand feeding, I will gladly outline my

methods for them.



