271 



and face itnniediately rouinl the bill are grey, which 

 j^radually merges into the plnni-colonr surronndings. 



The Red-breastki) Firefinch is about the size of 

 the Common, and I should tliink resembles it iu habits, 

 but as I only once met with one small flock of these 

 birds wild, I can only judge from their very similar 

 habits in confinement. I do not know if there is any 

 difference in the sexes — my two survivors are alike, 

 brown above, (including crown), and pinky-crimson 

 below, with many distinct white spots on the breast. 

 The bill is pinkish red shaded with black. Feet 

 dirty-red. 



Lave:ndp:r Finches. These were a most unsatis- 

 factory lot from my point of view ; the}- are by no means 

 common in the Gambia, and I only got about ten, all of 

 which died before reaching England or within a month 

 of their arrival. In their own country they are among 

 the most conspicuous of the small birds, moving about 

 in small flocks among the low bush and over the fallows, 

 feeding on grass-seeds ; also, I suspect, eating a good 

 many insects as well. These birds, and also the Fire- 

 finches, I feel certain, require in captivity some sub- 

 stitute for insects, and it is the lack of this, and not 

 merely the change of climate, which militates against 

 their thriving under the changed conditions. How such 

 a substitute can be provided is beyond me ; I find that 

 they will look at none of our ordinar}' insects, except an 

 occasional small spider, and even if they were keen on 

 ihem, it would be a practical impossibility to keep 

 more than one bird supplied with such delicacies. 

 Daddy-longlegs, I felt certain, would be appreciated, as 

 there is a very similar but smaller insect which appears 

 occasionally in swarms out there, and these swarms 

 always cause great excitement among the little birds. 

 Firefinches, more particularly, I have often watched 

 hunting and catching the insects with great eagerness, 

 rapidly devouring their prey on the ground and then up 

 and off" for more. Remembering this, I fully expected 

 they would enjo\' our " daddy " in its season, but wasdis- 



