Some Finches I have Kept. 37 



located and occasional glimpses obtained of them. Afterwards 

 they were to be seen regularly visiting the seed pans with their 

 parents. 



When they left the nest they were similar to their parents, 

 hut had black beaks and feet. The beaks and feet soon begin 

 *o change colour, and when about two months old these parts 

 were red and flesh-coloured respectively. At three months they 

 were indistinguishable from their parents. 



I do not think a fully detailed account of the successful 

 breeding of this species has ever appeared in Bird Notes, but I 

 rtfrain from fuller details, as I am hoping some member will 

 write an article thereupon. 



This species crosses readily with the Parson Finch 

 (7^. cincta), and the resulting hybrids are about intermediate 

 between the two species. The hybrids are fertile when paired 

 back to either parent species and also inter se. 



Diet : My birds have always been in a mixed series and 

 have had access to all kinds of seeds, milk-sop, insectile 

 rriixture, insects and millet sprays. The only foods I ever saw 

 them partake of were white millet seed, spray millet greedily, 

 and milk-sop. Even when they were feeding young I never saw 

 them visit the soft-food dish, but at this time they captured a 

 good many flies, etc., and boldly contended, for such retiring 

 birds, for mealworms when these were distributed, and, of 

 course, I always managed that they got what they wanted. 



No collection of mixed finches is complete without the 



Long-tail. 



(To be continued). 



My Sombre Honey-Eater 



(Myzantha obscura). 

 By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 



Alas ! I cannot write in the plural — wish I could, for they 

 are beautiful birds and should not be unduly difficult to breed, 

 but, as I write, I do not know of any specimen save the one I 

 am writing of. having been imported alive into this country, 



