24 Grassfi}icJics. 



Parson and LonL^'-tailed (Irassfinclies, and liybrids (fertile) 

 between the two latter species, wliich were ratlier freely bred in 

 these aviaries. 



I do not propose to deal with the above s])ecies se])arately. 

 as many have been recently noted in Rnditraticc of Birds, and 

 have often been written abont in onr pages. Their pliimag"es 

 are well known, so descriptions will not be g■i^•en. I purpose 

 merely making' a few general remarks on the group, and to give 

 a few individual notes where called for. 



(irasstinches are deservedly favourites with aviculturists; 

 their beautiful plumage, quaint deportment, and general readi- 

 ness to go to nest, if not always successfully, are sufficient 

 recommendation. ^Moreover, they are conspicuous birds, and 

 the positions they choose on bushes when alighting, leave them 

 nearly always " in the picture." 



This group has many things in common, being very 

 similar in deportment, general characteristics, food requirements 

 and lo\'e-making. 



The display of the males is very similar in all the species 

 though some attitudes are more exaggerated with some species 

 than others. The display consists of stretching" the neck to 

 the utmost extent and turning the head to one side (with several 

 of the species a straw is held in the beak while this performance 

 is going on) and uttering their love song fervently : the feathers 

 both of the head, neck, and underparts are puffed out, the body 

 is twisted from side to side and bobbed up and down. It is not 

 a foot dance, as the feet are not moved from the twig, even when 

 they move to and fro the claws are merely relaxed to allow of 

 this, but the feet are not taken from the perch — it is an amusing 

 and grotesque i)erformance to us humans, l)ut quite a serious 

 .matter to the birds. If amusing and grotesque to us, it is very 

 interesting and entertaining too. 



The song of Grassfinches is very similar in all the species, 

 with one or two exceptions it is a weak sibilant warbling, but 

 with one or two species there is strength of voice, and in theso 

 cases usually not very musical — e.g. the ridiculous toy trumpet 

 voice of the Zebra F-^inch. The Parson, Diamond, and Pong- 

 tailed species have clear plaintive notes, which though soft are 



