67 



tried keeping them in large and small flight cages with 

 other birds and by themselves. Still no song, and at 

 last I determined to be disappointed no longer, so a 

 "taboo" was placed on Grey Singing Finches. 



Amongst small foreign birds there is no doubt 

 that the joUiest and liveliest are the Zebra Finches. 

 These are great favourites of mine and I have long 

 regarded them as the very embodiment of birdy 

 energy and cheerfulness. It is rarely one finds a 

 Zebra Finch who has not some very important business 

 on hand, or who at least fails to give one that im- 

 pression. I am referring more particularly to the 

 male birds, for the hens are almost staid little things 

 beside their vivacious lords. 



There is no prettier or more suitable birdy present 

 one can make to a friend who has not hitherto kept 

 foreign birds, than a pair of Zebra Finches. They 

 will charm him, or her, by their bright and happy 

 manners, while their personal appearance is exceed- 

 ingly pleasing. In addition, they are easily catered 

 for, and generally breed with the slightest encourage- 

 ment — or even without. Being small birds, the Zebra 

 Finches are equally at home in a comparatively small 

 cage or a large aviary, and whilst peaceable them- 

 selves, they, or at least the cock, has enough pluck for 

 a bird six times his size. 



In a previous article I have recorded an instance 

 of a Zebra Finch thrashing a Crimson-crowned Weaver, 

 and I remember reading somewhere of one of these 

 impertinent mites hurling itself bodily against a great 

 bird which ventured too near its nest; and although 

 the act only deprived the intruder of a feather or two, 

 it succeeded in driving him away. I have also men- 



