e6 TJie Endurance of Birds. 



The Endurance of Birds. 



By Wesley T. Page, IvZ.S., etc. 

 (Continued from page ^9). 



Pectoral Finch (Munta pcetoralis ). This is a showy 

 and handsome hnch. showy not because of brilHant colouration 

 but owing- to the contrasty arrangement of the soft and deep 

 hues of its plumage. It is of mannikin form and demeanour, 

 not dull in the aviary, but is somewhat lethargic when caged. 



Though many aviculturists have had this species in pairs 

 it has not been freely bred — recorded instances of success are 

 quite limited. It has never gone to nest in my aviaries, and 

 the birds have generally taken but little notice of each other, 

 though I have possessed at least one true pair. In fact I have 

 never seen the courting dance performed; of course, that is 

 not to say that it has never occurred in my aviaries, but, certainly 

 not in my presence. 



I have found them hardy, but a wet, cold autumn tries 

 them, and if losses occur these have usually taken place among 

 my birds during the latter half of September and the early part 

 of the following month. They seem to feel the later bitter 

 winter weather less than the aforementiontd period. 



PiLEATED Finch (CoryMwspingns ["ileatus). This bird 

 I have included among the finches merely as a matter of conveni- 

 ence, owing to its popular name, as it is a member of the 

 Emberisincr. 



The male is deep slaty-grey above ; below it is whitish 

 grey, except the throat, breast, and flanks, which are palish 

 grey; the top of the head is black, with a longitudinal stripe of 

 rich carmine, which the bird erects as a crest when excited; 

 beak, upper mandible greyish-horn, lower whitish-horn. 



The female is easily distinguished from the male, as her 

 crest is browm, and she is altogether of a browner hue than her 

 mate. 



This species has ne^'er nested with me. but I have only 

 had two pairs, which passed the winter comfortably out of 



