380 The L.C.B.A. Show. 



He finds them ea<^.y to keep and the African species apparently- 

 quite; hardy, and states that all are more or less good songsters, 

 very tame, and lively, and are delightful pets. They are 

 fed on syrup— teaspoonful each of Mel'in's Foo 1, Nestle's milk, 

 and honey in a teacupful of l:oiling wa'er; they also get grapes 

 and blight (green fly). 



Black-beeasted Yelt/!\v-backed Sunbikf) (Aolhopj/ga 

 s^ifiirafa). This, the only specimen of its kind in Great 

 Britain, is an r?idian species, smaller linn (he well-known 

 Amethyst-j'umpcd, Init is a more elegant bird and its de- 

 meanour is very dainty, gentle, yet confiding and vivacious. 

 Its colouration is not easy to describe, principally black; 

 back maroon-red with a yellow jiatch near the tail-coverts; 

 croM'n of head and moustachial streaks vivid metallic violet- 

 blue; the tail is sleel-blue with the two central feathers much 

 elongated; beak black, slender and much curved. 



YuccATAx Jay (LaJoeiffa yuccatensis): A rare and 

 interesting bird, new to the show-bench, and scouring premier 

 honour? in its class. This bird was privately imported by 

 Major Horsbrugh, and is a beautiful and interesting bird, 

 uncannily tame from having been hand i eared: it is still in 

 immature plumage, blue and black, with yellow bill, legs and 

 feet : these latter cliange to l)lack and the blue becomes 

 much brighter when fully adult. A handsome and mischievous 

 pet. 



Black-chinned Yuhtna (Yuhina nigrhnrntum) . These 

 were introduced to English aviculture by Major Horsbrugh last 

 May, being collected for him by Mr. Frost. These are charm- 

 ing mites — wee Babblers — very tame and confiding, and 

 make ideal pets either for cage or aviary. While their coloura- 

 tion is not gorgeous— mostly grey, grey -brown, and whitish- 

 grey— they are handsome and stiiking bii'ds, the pink margins 

 and base of the mandibles, light up the soft colouration of the 

 plumage. Mr. Goodchild's characteristic drawing makes 

 further description superfluous. Character and mannerisms 

 fully discount their somewhat sombre plumage and make 

 them most desirable cage birds. Their quaint vivacious antics, 

 combined with the perky upraising of the crest (in a ditferent 

 position almost for every emotion), are distinctly fetching. 

 They were awarded premier honours in their class. 



Peters' Spotted Firefinch La(j()nostict<( nirei- 



