7^ 



the Greenfincli. The varieties above alluded to are of 

 course only obtainable by chance, and no fixed value 

 can be set on them. 



The Pekin Robin {Liothrix hdeus) is a Robin- 

 like insectivorous bird of great beauty, olive green 

 above and yellow below, with orange streaked wings 

 and a red bill. The male is more brightly colored 

 than the female, but is best distinguished by its song, 

 which is very pretty. This species lives well in an 

 aviary, although it seldom breeds there ; it is very 

 gentle, but should not be associated with breeding 

 small birds, as it is apt to eat their eggs. It needs a 

 constant supply of egg-food and fruit. It is extremely 

 lively and intelligent, and always attracts notice. It is 

 a most suitable bird for experiments on intelligence 

 and warning colours and mimicry, and would also do 

 better than any other species for sexual selection 

 experiments. As there is much individual variation 

 in the species, its colours would not need artificially 

 altering for this purpose. 



Pekin Robins cost in the early year about 3s. 6d. 

 for males and is. 6d. for females, but prices soon rise 

 later in the season. It would thus be well to get in a 

 stock early, experiment with them, and then sell 

 them off, which, as the}' live well, would result in 

 some small profit. 



The Golden Pheasant {ChrysolopJms piclus) is 

 easily kept and bred in aviaries, being treated much 

 like a Bantam fowl. Several hens can be run with 

 one cock, and the progeny can be sold for about ios.6d. 

 each in their first season. The cocks will fetch more if 

 kept until they assume their full color in the second 

 year. 



This species produces exceedingly beautiful 

 hybrids Vv'ith the Amherst Pheasant, and these are 

 fertile, so that the forms are good ones for hybridi- 



