12 



now (1888) in his splendid scarlet plumage, insolently tame, and a 

 delightful pet. He attained his red coat in tbe late autumn to a great 

 degree, though perhaps owing to the vicissitudes of his early life, not 

 nearly so bright in colour as he became in his second year. To any 

 stranger approaching his cage with friendliness, he will put up his crest 

 and sing himself hoarse, and if allowed to come out, he will fly to one's 

 shoulder and with grotesque movements shout into one's ear, whereby he 

 evidently thinks one is troubled with a loss in the sense of hearing. I 

 must add, that the parent birds after having been decoyed back again into 

 the pheasantry, were once more released in the following spring, much to 

 their delight. They built again, but the hen bird, after laying two eggs, 

 was found dead." 



The number of instances of its breeding in aviaries are but few. Lord 

 Stanley had a pair which reared three young ones in his menagerie at 

 Knowsley in 1834. Dr. Sclater records it as having bred in the Zoological 

 Society's Gardens, and in various private aviaries they often build and 

 lay eggs, which generally come to grief. 



In confinement I recommend millet, canary, buckwheat, rape, turnip- 

 seed, wheat and Indian- corn to be given ; and when obtainable in a green 

 or soft condition, at intervals, also hawthorn berries ; hempseed should be 

 very sparingly used. 



Much valuable information can be gathered from Dr. Karl Russ's 

 ' Stubenvogel,' and Dr. A. E. Brehm's ' Thierleben,' on this bird in 

 captivity. 



Specimens examined. 



No. Sex. Mu3. Country. Length. Wing. Tail. Tare. Culm. 



a. <? E. B. Miami, N. America. 7-8 34 37 0-95 075 



h. 2 E. B. N. America. 8-3 3-6 4-3 0-95 067 



c. 3- E. B. Wilson Co. N. America. 8-45 37 4-0 0-95 07 



d. 3 E. B. Virginia, N. America {D. JV. Scott). 7-95 3-65 39 0-95 067 



e. (J E. B. Alabama, N. America {Kumlien 



undBean). 7-1 3-55 3-85 0-9 07 

 /. J E. B. Tamaulipas, Mexico 8-0 3o0 39 09 062 



