An Ahoiit " Arr^—A Herrinf; GiiU. 91 



hand-grind — a bird's feet are partly hands — he will swing 

 round his perch, holding on by the feet, in the vain endeavour 

 to catch his tail! His feet are large and powerful. I am 

 told he can be taught to speak. INIine will sometimes bark 

 like* a dog on the approach of a stranger. 



The Red-Back. The Red-Back Mocking-Bird {Cas- 

 sicus a/finis) is closely related in form and habits to the yel- 

 low-back. It is, however, entirely black with the exception of 

 the rump which is rich, bright, crimson ; the colour of red 

 port wine seen against the light. The black feathers have 

 also a blue sheen. It is rarer and shier than the Yellow-back 

 and is not so intelligent. I have never seen it in a cage. 

 A couple I tried to rcnr 'lid not thrive; but the conditions 

 were difficult. 



It has a long, swift flight, and then the crimson of 

 its back gleams out. It maj sometimes be found sharing the 

 Colony of the Yellow-backs; but the two never inter-breed. 

 Nature abhors miixed marriages of all kinds. 



[Below \vc give English ec|uivalcnts for names used in this .irticle. — 

 Ed "B.N."]. 

 Twa-'l"\v,i=Tliick- billed Seed-Finch. 

 'I ua-'I u.T.=Torrid Seed-Finch. 

 Fire-Finch^=Kecl-crested Finch. 

 Cieole Canary=Yellowish Finch. 



White-throated Finch or Rinjc-neck^^Lineatcd Finch, 

 .Moustache Finches-— Lined Finch and Black-lieaded Lined Finds 



respectively. 

 Black-throated Sacki=Dwarf Euphonia. 

 Euck-Canary=Violet Euphonia. 

 V<'ilov-sided Sacki=Black-faced Euphonia. 



^'(•l low-vented Sacki=r:Ycllow-hellicd Tanager. 

 Velio w-Back=Yellovv-rumped Hangncst. 

 Red- Bark =^Red-rumped Hangnesr. 



(To be confiniird). 



All about *'Ari"— A Herring Gull. 



Bv Fr.ank D.wv.son-Smith. 

 Before ioining the army I paid a farewell visit to the North 

 Western Highlands of Scotland, and found a temporary 



