125 



Gbe IRibbon jfmcb. 



(Amadina fasciata). 



By Aviculturist. 



Also known as the Cutthroat, Rrd-Bandsd, Red-Throated and 



Coral-Necked Finch. 



This common but pretty species is 4J inches long; tail r 

 inch. It is stoutly built, and so well known as to scarcely need 

 description. Briefly, the general colour of its plumage is several 

 shades of fawn or golden brown, but each feather is more or less 

 pencilled with white and black, imparting an undulated or scaled 

 appearance to the plumage of the undersurface ; beak, legs, and 

 feet dull flesh colour. The male is further distinguished by a 

 circlet of ruby on the throat extending from ear to ear, and a 

 patch of very dark brown or chocolate on the abdomen, thickly 

 interspersed with white spots. 



They are very common in Western and South Western 

 Africa, where they are the bete ?ioire of the millet growers on 

 account of their partiality to that seed, visiting the fields in large 

 flocks and doing considerable damage. It has been introduced 

 into Mauritius and St. Helena, where it has become quite estab- 

 lished, and increased to such an extent that many of the large 

 importations which reach the English market come from there. 

 In confinement, if put into an ordinary outdoor aviary in June, 

 they will come safely through our sharpest winters, even in 

 northern localities, and except the newly-imported individuals, 

 these are among the longest lived inhabitants of my aviary. 



Food : In a state of nature they are partly insectivorous 

 during the breeding season, as is also the case with our native 

 finches. In confinement, canary seed, white and spray millet 

 will be sufficient to keep them in health, but mine always have 

 access to ants' eggs, given dry as purchased, also a few insects 

 and they are the more vigorous for them, with green food (canaiy- 

 grass and field grass in flower), grit, and ample provision to 

 exercise their love of a bath. 



Breeding : Not much is known for so common a species 

 of their habits in a state of nature ; their nest is a clumsy domed 

 structure in some bush or small tree. In my aviary they have never 



