36 The Endurance of Birds. 



Plumrkoits F'inch (S. pJitmhca). This plainly clad 

 Grosbeak was at one period not uncommon on the bird-market 

 but thous^'h it had been on the market for many years. I do not 

 know of any record of it l^eing' successfully bred. 



In 1912 a pair came into my possession: these success 

 fully passed the winter out of doors. The following spring- 

 they made an unsuccessful attempt to reproduce their kind. In 

 the early summer a second and more successful attempt was 

 made, but though the young lived for some time after their exit 

 from the nest, they disappeared during the autumn, and I did 

 not claim the record. Quite a bulky nest was constructed, 

 cup-shaped, with quite a deep cup. It was a very tidy, 

 substantial and shapely structure, the materials used in its 

 construction being grass and bents, lined with tine grass and 'i 

 few feathers. Four eggs were laid and three young birds were 

 hatched out. two of which lived to leave the nest and to disport 

 themselves in the aviary for about two months. They showe>.' 

 no signs of illness, but were apparently strong and vigorous. 

 I missed them before the cold weather came. In the spring 

 clean I found several skeletons (picked up from the ground) 

 which by their stout bills were undoubtedly Spcrmophilae, two 

 of the largest of which I assumed to be the remains of the tw'o 

 young Plumbeous Finches 



The Plumbeous Finch cannot be called an attractive bird. 

 It is of heavy and clumsy form, dull, sombre plumage, without 

 any pleasing variegation, and possesses but little song; in fact 

 may be termed the unnmsical member of a family of talented 

 musicians. Its principal interest lies in the fact that it is an 

 unbred species, i.e. young have never been bred, so far as I 

 know, to reach mature plumage. 



It is one of the hardiest members of the SpcrmophUa 

 family, and can be successfully wintered out of doors. 



Habitat. Brazil, extending into Bolivia. 



Bar-rreasted FiRKFTNCH ( Lo (^ouosticto rufopicta) : Dr 

 E. Hopkinson ])resented me with a male and two females, from 

 a consignment which he brought over when coming home on 

 leave, in 1912 I think. They were in faultless condition and did 



