All rigkis 7-ese7ved.] ' [MAY 1906. 



BIRD NOTES: 



THE JOURNAL OF 



THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB. 



ttbe Sepop Jfiucb. 



( Hcematospiza sipahij. 

 By C. CASTL15-S1.OANE, F.Z.S. 



Apparently little is known of this bird by British 

 aviculturists. According to the Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society the first specimen was added to 

 the Society's collection on June loth, 1902. 



My pair I have only recently obtained ; one thing 

 which greatly induced me to buy these beautiful 

 birds, was that I was informed they were sure to 

 breed. In fine condition they certainly were, the 

 cock bird being a lovely geranium red with brown 

 markings on the wings and base of tail, the hen being 

 more soberly clad in a rich golden brown with a grey 

 speckled breast and with the lower back of a beautiful 

 yellow. She is much the tamer of the two and appears 

 to be master and mistress in one. 



The way she eats is somewhat startling, — ever- 

 lastingly at the seed tray until one wonders where 

 she puts it all. For instance, being passionately fond 

 of lettuce she will take great beakfuls the moment you 

 offer it. The cock is not so greedy — no, we had better 

 .say has not so good an appetite, because he does occa- 

 sionally leave the dish, — but after all it is hard to say 

 whether it is voluntary or compulsory abstinence on 

 his part. 



