436 Mr. F. Finn on the 



montifringilla) , the specimens of this bird being imported. 

 A species of Serinus — I think S. icterus — is not uncommon. 

 American Cardinals {Cardinalis viry'miarius and Paroaria 

 cucullata) have been brought here and have done well, but 

 have not sold very readily. 



Family A l a u d i d ^. 



Larks are popular here as cage-birds, especially the " Chen- 

 dool" [Galerita cristata) and the "Agheens"' [Mlrafra). 

 Melanocorypha bimaculata is also brought down to Calcutta 

 in numbers at the close of the cold season, while a few speci- 

 mens of M. mongolica may generally be seen, as it is pretty 

 regularly imported. Another Chinese Lark is often to be 

 noticed, Alaucla gulgula, I think — at any rate it differs, like 

 that bird, from A. arvensis in its smaller size, shorter wings 

 and tail, and larger feet. These birds are expensive, costing 

 between ten and twenty rupees, although not apparently 

 different from Indian specimens of A. gulgula, which 1 have 

 never seen caged. But the custom of wrapping up the cages 

 has limited my knowledge of Larks to a very great extent. 



Family N e c t a r i n 1 1 n .e. 



Both Arachnechthra asiatica and A. zeglonica may be 

 occasionally seen at the dealers^ establishments, but can 

 hardly be expected to tiuive. Nevertheless, I have known 

 the latter kept by Europeans for many months, and I de- 

 posited one of the former safely in the London Zoological 

 Gardens in 1897, although it was in poor condition and did 

 not live long. Mr. Rutledge informs me, however, that this 

 species is kept in some places as a song-bird, so that certain 

 natives must understand how to treat it. 



Family D i c .e i d ^. 



A few examples of Dicaum crueniatum are occasionally on 

 sale, but these birds, though they will eat bananas greedily, 

 are not easy to keep. This is a great pity, as they are not 

 only very pretty, but quite the tamest and most fearless of 

 any small birds I know. 



