58 



Like the Scarlet Tanager, although he has no 

 crest he raises the feathers on the top of the head 

 when startled. 



The other day, when I put up some cocoanut 

 husks for the Budgerigars, the hen seemed to be 

 greatly interested in the operation, and no sooner was 

 I out of the aviary than she flew to the perch and 

 began to peer here and there, wondering what on 

 earth it was ; then she took courage and jumped on to 

 a husk, looking with great interest into the hole ; 

 when she was quite satisfied she began tugging at the 

 loose fibre, the cock meanwhile looking on with a 

 sour face : " I shall not help you" was his expression, 

 and as though to justify this he kept as far away from 

 her as possible. 



In view of the striking appearance, as well as of 

 the rarity, of this bird, I feel that I cannot do full 

 justice to it without appending its description as given 

 in The Faujia of British India, Gould's Birds of Asia, 

 and Jerdo7is Birds of India. In the first of these 

 extracts will be seen an interesting note as to the 

 manner in which the j^oung males assume their full 

 plumage. 



THE SCARLKT FINCH {Hcsmatospiza sipahi). 

 (From Fauna of British India. Birds. Vol. II., p. 209.) 



Coloration. Male. The whole head and body 

 brilliant scarlet, the concealed bases of the feathers 

 ashy ; wings black, every feather margined with 

 scarlet; tail black with narrow crimson margins; 

 thighs black; under tail-coverts black, with scarlet 

 tips ; axilliaries and under wing-coverts ashy, with 

 very small scarlet tips. 



