167 



The Yellow Sparrow is a native of Abyssinia, and is some- 

 times called the Ayssinian Sparrow. Dr. Russ describes it as 

 peacable iu the aviary, but Mr. Seth-vSmith found it dangerous. 

 I have had a particularly fine male for about two years, and 

 recently acquired a (supposed) female — which may possibly 

 turn out to be a young male. The cock has lived in a small 

 bird-i-oom aviary with Canarie.s, Diamond vSparrows, etc., and 

 has never done the least damage. I should not care to trust 

 him with very small birds, but I do not think he would be 

 dangerous unless he were nesting — then he probably would be. 



My pair have so far shewn no inclination to nest, but I 

 understand the species has been bred in Germany, and there 

 should be no special difficulty in inducing it to nest in Britain. 



The males appear to differ greatly in the degree of 

 intensity of the yellow of the plumage. In many it is a very 

 pale whitish yellow tint, and I have never seen another quite 

 so bright as mine. I am by no means sure that there are not 

 two species going by the name of Passe?' luteiLS. 



I feed mine on canary seed, with a little "Indian" millet, 

 and occasionally a few henipseeds, but I have not tried them 

 out of doors. 



Since writing the above, I have been told that some small 

 dealers sell the Saffron Finch under this name — and that any 

 " Yellow Sparrow " advertised at a very low price is probably 

 merely Sycalis flaveola. H. R. V. 



THE SILKY COW-BIRD. 



Question. Would you kindly give me particulars of the 

 Silky Cow-bird, as I cannot find it in any book on birds. 



Is it a seedeater } Does it sing .? Does it breed in this 

 country } To which countrv does it belong } 



A. R. B. 



Answer. The Silky Cow-bird {Molothrus bonariensis) 

 a native of South America (Argentina, etc.), is commonly 

 imported into this country, where it is sold under many 

 different names, such as "the Common or Silky Cow-bird," 

 '' Metallic Blackbird," or occasionally " Black Tanager." The 

 price is generally about five shillings. 



The male is a glossy blue-black all over, with dull black 

 beak and legs; in shape it resembles a vStarling, but is dis- 

 tinctly smaller. The female is uniform grey. 



