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or the Fringilhdcz' I obtained two species, the Grekn 

 Singing Finch and the Rock-vSparrow (Petronia 

 deniata). The first mentioned is a common cage-bird 

 with tlie natives of Bathnrst, the only small bird they 

 value as a pet ; if they catch others, it is only for the 

 white man or for the pot. Personally I am not verj' fond 

 of this bird, as mine have all been such quarrelsome 

 little beggars, so out of the dozen odd I brought home I 

 have only kept one, and that one simply because it is 

 rather smaller and much paler than any of the others, 

 and may belong to a different species. 



The Rock-Spa RROVV.S are very common round 

 Bathnrst, where one meets with them in small flocks in 

 straggling bush along the shore and on the out- 

 skirts of the town ; they are rather shy little birds and 

 very unlike our Sparrow, which I am glad to say is 

 unknown out there, and certainly undesired. 



In size the Rock-Sparrow is about equal to a 

 Linnet, and in colour brown above and grey below ; the 

 throat is white, in the middle of which in most speci- 

 mens is a pale yellow spot. Old birds have a definitely 

 grey head, but the younger ones, which often lack the 

 yellow throat-spot, have the head brown like the back, 

 and a broad fawn eyebrow. Most of my birds were 

 young ones and in the latter plumage, but some of them 

 are now becoming greyer on the head and losing the 

 distiJict eyebrow, so I hope all will survive to moult into 

 the adult plumage. In the aviary they are lively, if not 

 show}^ birds, and one notices, as their most characteristic 

 habit, the quick Wagtail-like flirting of the tail which 

 accompanies every movement. I have not heard any 

 song, but they have a sweet single call-note. 



In conclusion, I will just mention what other birds 

 my collection included : — Waxbills, Orange-cheek, Zebra, 

 and Common (of the latter but a single individual). 

 Bronze Mannikins (250 odd and not one Two-coloured 

 among them). Cordon-bleus. Red-billed and Yellow 

 Weavers (Hyphantornis) , and finally Paradise and Pin- 

 tailed Whvdahs. 



