238 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



They have bred ia confinement, and, like all the preceding, 

 are fed with white millet and a little canary seed. 



Wiener's Waxbill. — Wings and greater part of the 

 plumage deep orange, shaded with olivaceous green ; under 

 parts greyish olive, with yellow undulations ; head and 

 face crimson. 



Ribbon Fixch. — At one time this bird was very 

 generally known b}" the objectionable name 01 cut-throat, 

 which is being superseded by the more euphonious and 

 equally descriptive appellation we bestowed upon it when 

 describing the bird in " The Amateur's Aviary " some years 

 ago. 



The general colour is fawn, with numerous darker spots 

 all over. In the male a red band extends across the throat 

 from ear to ear, which is always wanting in the female. 



These birds breed freely, generally nesting in a cocoa-nut 

 husk, and but rarely make a domed nest like those 

 already mentioned. The eggs are four or five in number, 

 and quite white. The young are very often thrown out by 

 the parents when a few days old. 



It is desirable to add ants' eggs, fresh, if possible, to their 

 diet of white millet and canary seed. 



Cabe Palmas Finch. — This bird is very generally known 

 as the two-coloured mannikin. The upper parts are black, 

 and the lower white ; both sexes are alike. It lacks the 

 brown shading that distinguishes the hooded finch, which it 

 i-esembles in regard to size. 



The Cape Palmas finch also breeds in confinement. 



African Silverbill. — There is but little difference 

 between this bird and its Indian namesake; the former 

 is a little darker, that is all, but is as desirable a cage 

 bird as the other, being hardy, frugal, and ready to breed 

 in cage and aviary, beside possessing one of the sweetest 

 voices among foreign, as opposed to British, birds. Upper 



