214 J^yccdUig of Goldfinch x Ilinuilayai} Sisk'ni Hybrids. 



The Breeding of Goldfincli Himalayan Sishin 



Hybrids. 



By W. Sfiorf. Baily. 



In tliese days when our aviaries are more or less empty, 

 it is something" to be able to record even one breeding success. 

 Strang'e to say this has been with me almost a repetition of one 

 of my very early successes, the breeding of a Greenfinch x 

 Himalayan Siskin, for which I received the F.B.C. medal, see 

 B.N., 1914. This time the male was an English rioldfinch. and 

 the five young hybrids arc quite different from the bird figured 

 in B.N., 1915, being much slighter in build and brighter in 

 colour. These youngsters, with the exception of a few Zebra 

 Finches, were the only small birds bred here this season, none 

 of the others having attempted to nest. With the larger birds 

 we were rather more successful, having fully reared four 

 Bronze-wing Doves, four Peaceful Troves, four Necklace x 

 Senegal Dove hybrids, eight Diamond Doves, 11 Californian 

 Quail (from two pairs), and 11 Horned Huinea Fowl (Nioiiida 

 cornuta ). The Himalayan Siskins have always been favourites 

 here; two years ago two young ones were reared, the first time 

 in Great Britain I believe. These young birds, when in their 

 nesting plumage, were quite different from two young Sikhini 

 Siskins, that I got from Mr. Teschemaker the same season. 

 This gentleman has bred the Sikhims very freely I understand. 



In B.X. 1914 1)oth varieties are described as follows: — 

 C. spinoidcs, male, alcove greenish-olivaceous-brown; forehead 

 variable according to age. black, or black and yellow, or nearly 

 all yellow; crown, nape, ear-coverts, and jiart of cheeks, black 

 tinged with green; lores sides of face, sides of neck, band across 

 back of neck, rump and the whole of the under parts rich canary- 

 yellow; upper tail-coverts greenish-brown; tail, two central 

 feathers deep brown, the others more or less yellow; wings, 

 dusky black; greater-coverts, tipped with }ellow ; and the quills 

 with a broad patch of yellow on the outer webs, and tipped and 

 margined with white. 'i'otal length, 5 inches, tail just under 2. 



C. tihciana. male, above olive-green; tlie l)ack and mantle 

 Streaked with black with a greenish tinge; streaks above and 



