7i 



feeling strongly the need of remembering the commandment " Thou shall 

 not covet," I saw several cages containing several species of Parrakeets, etc., 

 including oue housing a charming collection of Crimson-wings. One 

 could not but be struck with the difference shown between the immature 

 specimens and an adult in the same cage. At first I was inclined to think 

 that this was not the Crimson-wing of the English show bench, but upon 

 Mr. Payne pointing out the adult bird which had escaped our notice, one 

 could readily fall in with the remark that these were young birds. In the 

 latter the Crimson on the wings was very slight compared with that of the 

 full-grown bird, but here is a rare chance for obtaining that desideratum of 

 the alien keeper — excuse the term ye foreign bird lovers — young birds. 



Beside these was a lovely collection of the Earl of Derby or Stanley 

 Parrakeets, now fairly well known, a description of which I need not give. 

 Then our eyes rested on a cage containing several Red-collared Lorikeets 

 (Tiichoglossus rubritorques) very handsome, resembling very closely the 

 well-known Blue Mountain or Swainson's Lorikeet with the exception of 

 a red baud round the collar, instead of the yellowish-green found on the 

 latter. Their head is blue, chest red, under parts olive-green, band on nape 

 orange-red. 



Next to attract our attention were some very charming Rock 

 Parrakeets, {Neophema peti ophila) very rare specimens and in most superb 

 condition. Their general colouring is — frontal baud deep indigo blue, no 

 yellow-lores, all upper surface yellowish olive-green, under surface yellow. 



Then followed the finches, Red and Black-headed Gouldians, in all 

 their glory ; quite the finest collection I have ever seen for condition and 

 health. Masked, Bicheuo, Ruficauda, Long-tail Grass, Pectoralis, Yellow- 

 rumps and Zebra finches. These species are so well-known to every foreign 

 bird enthusiast that they call for no description on my part ; but I certainly 

 cannot pass over the Crimson finches and Painted finches (Emblema picta) 

 without comment. The Crimson, Blood or Fire finches were a charming 

 collection, in the pink of condition and health, real gems, for just as I was 

 taking notes, the sun settled on their cage giving them the effect of 

 little balls of fire. Description : male — Crimson tinged with brown on top 

 of head and wings, a few white spots on sides; female: less red on under 

 .surface. The Painted finch, the pride of Messrs. Payne and Wallace's 

 collection, and rightly so. I may perhaps be permitted to say in support 

 of this, that the} 1 have every reason to be proud of getting these rare and 

 beautiful birds over such along and trying journey, in such perfect condition 

 and health. Adult male: general colour — above pale brown, upper tail 

 covert rich scarlet, head brown like back, as also the sides of face and of 

 neck, feathers below eye and fore parts of cheeks scarlet, throat and upper 

 surface of body black, chin and upper throat with scarlet tipped feathers, 

 centre of fore neck and chest also scarlet, sides of breast and abdomen 

 spotted white. 



