17 



chastely coloured pair (plumage having a lovely 

 bloom) of this fascinating genus. The same gentle- 

 man's Red-faced Finches {Zo7iogastris melba) were 

 fourth. (3) Beaty, a perfect specimen of the Black- 

 headed Gouldians. Very hardly treated (v.h.c.) were 

 Mr. Townsend's very rare Rufous-backed Mannikins, 

 a first appearance* on the Show Bench and in perfect 

 condition, should certainly have been third at least. 



THE RUFOUS-BACKED MANNIKIN. 



{Spermestes iii'griceps). 



Equally inexplicable appears the passing of a pair 

 of Tri-coloured Finches (even though a little rough) 

 without a card. Also exhibited very fine pair Lavender 

 Finches (c), Grey Waxbills, Cordon Bleus, Ruficauda, 

 Pintail Nonpariels, and male specimens of Red- 

 collared Whydah (h.c.) and Golden Sparrow. 



Grosbeaks, Buntings, etc. : Mr. Hawkins was first 



* Siuce writing the above, I find these birds were exhibited both in 1894 and 

 1895, t>ut have not appeared since that date. 



