THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



291 



almost the size of the diamond sparrow, and are coloured 

 in almost all the tints of the rainbow, but have, neverthe- 

 less, a decidedly neat and trim appearance. 



They will breed freely in confinement if kept at a suit- 

 able temperature, that is, from 60 to 90 degrees ; but if 

 exposed for any lenc^th of time to anything lower than the 





v-^<r 



Fig. 65. — The Chestnut- Breasted Finch. 

 former, tbey quickly get out of health, and lose their neat 

 -appearance, and, if the low temperature continues, die. 



They are very frugal feeders, white millet being their 

 ■chief diet ; a little canary seed may be added, but they do 

 not care about it much. The nest is a huge afiair made of 

 ^rass, and the eggs, from three to five in number, are 



