i6o 

 THE LAVENDER FINCH. 



Everj-one who has possessed this delightful Waxbill 

 will no doubt agree with me that it is one of the 

 prettiest and most most interesting of the Waxbill 

 family. Its beaut}- of plumage, activity, pretty flight, 

 and the ease with which it is tamed, combined with the 

 low figure at which it can always be purchased, ought to 

 insure its inclusion in every collection. 



Lavender Finches are easily kept in perfect health 

 (at least that is my experience) on the following dietary : 

 Canary and white millet seed, millet spray, grass seed in 

 the ear (a sod of grass just as pulled out of the earth 

 with the mould attached is a source of great delight), 

 a little sponge cake, with a few ants' eggs, and about a 

 couple of mealworms each daily. Of the latter they are 

 exceedingly fond : they do not eat them, like Weavers 

 or insectivorous birds do, but run them along in their 

 beaks, extract the soft parts, and leave the skins. When 

 I take up the box of mealworms and open the door of 

 my indoor aviar}', they will come at once, perch on my 

 fingers, hands, or arms, all excitement until they get 

 their worm, when they at once go back to the cage to 

 enjoy it at their leisure. The skins they will store away 

 in some corner or cocoa-nut husk, and unless you are 

 aware of this, and clean out all nests and husks regularly, 

 you will be surprised at the " find " you will discover 

 some morning. 



Being exceedingly fond of a bath, they should never 

 be without a plentiful supply of fresh water. 



For some time my pair have been turning their 

 attention to setting up house, and take great ir.terest in 

 a converted cigar-box decorated with Virginian bark. 

 Next month I intend turning them into an outdoor 

 aviar}', in the hope that the}' will breed. 



Their love-dance is most entertaining, 



Andrew Phii^ip. 



