112 



shrubs, and cosy nest-boxes, where they must be kept 

 scrupulously clean, and fed on the best white millet, 

 with Senegal or spray millet in addition when obtain- 

 able ; other important points are, that plenty of dry 

 sand should be provided, as well as cuttlefish-bone or 

 lime in another form. It must also be remembered 

 that danger may arise from other causes than those 

 mentioned above, for instance from drinking ice-cold 

 water or eating unwholesome green food. Moreover 

 it is a singular, but none the less a regrettable 

 phenomenon, that frequently the handsomest and 

 healthiest of acclimatized Firefinches die suddenly 

 when caught up from the bird-room and confined in a 

 cage : whether this is due to fright or to an invincible 

 love of liberty, who can say ! but it shows what care 

 they require. 



(a) The retail price of these birds varies between 

 3 &4 thalers (9/- & 12/-), but at the wholesale dealers 

 they are sold at from 4 to 6 francs a pair (3/6 to 5/-). 

 It is always risky to buy these birds when very rough 

 or bare, and in any case the amateur must bear in 

 mind the general instructions I have given in the 

 chapter on bird-bujdng, as well as other details which 

 will be found in my account of the Grey Waxbill. 



(A list of the various names which have been 

 given to this bird here follows ; its usual German 

 name appears to be, " der Amarant.") (^) 



(a) Prices in England nsually vary from 3/- a pair for newly 

 imported specimens (a most risky speculation as Dr. Russ 

 remarks), to 10/- or more for " acclimatised " birds. 



(b) English names. The earliest are " Firebird " (Brown), 

 and "Senegal Finch" (Latham), both of which are still in 

 occasional use as popular names, but the name " Firefiuch " is 

 by far the most commonly used, though more rarely one sees 

 them advertised under the ugly name of " Bloodfinch," or the 

 French one, ^' Sene^ali." The term " Ruddy Waxbill" is a 

 book name for any species of Lagofiosiicta. 



