159 



verj' good flyers. In the winter I shut up all I wish to keep 

 for stock, the rest are driven and fly well aflfording good sport. 



N. L. F. DUNLEATH. 



THE GENUS SPERMOPHILA. 



Sir, — The little finches of this genus have always had a 

 special attraction for nie, and I have at different times possessed 

 examples of all the more commonly imported species as well 

 as of one or two of the rarer ones. 



I see that, in your interesting series of articles upon the 

 genus, you remark concerning the Half-white Finch (Speniio- 

 phila hypoleuca) that yon "<lo not think any living specimen of 

 this species has yet reached this country." I may say that I had 

 a male Half-while I'"inch for some years in the •' nineties," and 

 a few remarks about it will be found in the Avicultural Maga- 

 a'/w^ (Original Series) Vol. II. p. 57. It is a rather larjjer bird 

 than most of the genus, and my example became spiteful in 

 his old age. The few notes are loud and peculiar, but scarcely 

 melodious. 



I have had two male Lined Finches at different times, and 

 they are attractive birds with a good song, but I should not 

 describe the species as "alert and confiding." I found it 

 inclined to mope, and Mr. R. A. Todd records the same ex- 

 perience. The tendency to overgrown claws, which it shares 

 with the Mannikins, is most noteworthy, and is mentioned by 

 both Mr. Todd and the late Mr. P^rskine Allon, and would seem 

 to be the resull of its inactivity. My first specimen spent about 

 a year in my bird-room before attaining adult plumage, so it is 

 probable that this is not assumed until the second, or possibly 

 the third, year. Horatio R. F'illmeR. 



[The two Lined Finches I po.ssessed .some years ago, were alert and con- 

 fiding' birds in a medium -sized garden aviary, and never did any harm to 

 the small Waxbills, etc. occupying their enclosure. I am a frequent visitor 

 to the London Zoo and have carefully studied the specimens there, and 

 while not as alert as the two specimens aforementioned, they certainly were 

 neither dull nor mopey, but fairly active and fearless, almost continuously 

 uttering their sweet little lay. Mr. Fillmer's interesting communication 

 amply illustrates the fact, that there is as much individualism iu birds as 

 there is in genus Homo, and that it is only from the records of the tnany, that 



