172 



FOREIGN BIRDS FOR CAGE AND AVIARY. 



he killed every one. The skin of the Zebra-Bicheno 

 hybrid is not very good, but a.s the sketch from lite is 

 perfect, you will be able to make out the various 

 points of resemblance." 



This skin, as Mr. Abrahams implied, is decidedly im- 

 perfect, the ends of the wings, rump, tail and vent 

 having apparently been gnawed away by a mouse. The 

 coloured sketch, therefore, was absolutely necessary 

 tiv enable me to make either a complete drawing or 

 description of this very interesting bird. At the same 

 time I prepared my drawings almo.st entirely from 

 the skins, taking careful measurements to ensure (as 

 lanirly as jjossible) accurate life-size representations 

 of the originals. The coloured sketches, though only 

 of about half the natural size, and, being sketched 

 from living birds only, of course not scientifically cor- 

 rect in details, were very useful in indicating the 

 general distribution of pattern and colouring. 



The parentage of the Bicheno-Zebra Finch hybrid 

 is very palpable. Curiously, and yet naturally enough, its 

 general character partakes far more largely of the hardy 

 maternal than the far more delicat* patenr;il stock. 



In its general form — outline, though not colour, of 

 beak, the presence of a large, though not chestnut- 

 coloured, cheek patch, the barred brea.st, and white- 

 barred, though apparently m/Uch shorter, upper tail- 

 coverts — this hybrid approaches the male Zebra Finch. 

 The beak appears to have been fleshy-white in colour, 

 therefore neither resembles the coral-red beak of 

 the Zebra Finch nor the pale silver-grey of Bicheno's 

 Finch, but a compromise between the two. 



On the other hand, the forehead and eyebrow streak 

 nearly resemble those of the father; but this .streak, 

 in.stead of merely running behind the ear-coverts, 

 round the sides of the neck, and across the back of the 

 throat, pas.ses just behind the eye, where it expands 

 into the large cheek patch before noted, which extends 

 over the ear-coverts and unites with a crescentic belt 

 passing obliquely down the side of the throat. The 

 chin and throat are white, as in Bicheno's Finch : but, 

 singularly enough, some of the feathers at the side 

 of the breast and those of the flanks show a sub- 

 terminal black bar, as also do the outer wing-coverts. 



Bicheno's Finches. 



B1CHEN0 + Zebra Finch Hybrid. 



One very curious effect of the combination between 

 these two birds is the shifting downward of the barred 

 throat patch of the Zebra Finch. .So as to HU the area 

 enclosed between the two black bars of Bicheno's Finch, 

 the silver grey tinting of the barred feathers is 

 retained. 



This remarkable hybrid was bred by Mr. R. Ellis, ol 

 London, apjjarently about the year 1888, since the 

 coloured sketch of it was made for Mr. Abrahams in 

 December of that year. Other examjiles of the same 

 hybrid have been bred by various aviculturists and 

 exhibited at the Cry.'ital Palace and else- 

 where, so that I have had an opportunity 

 of proving that my sketch, although made 

 under adverse conditions, was tolerably 

 accurate. 



Bicheno's Finch {,'^tirtop/era hicfifnovii). 



The male a.bove is pale brown, the 

 feathers with slightly daiker liars, romp 

 crossed by Ti black belt ; upper tail-coverts 

 •white, tail black, grtater wing covcits and 

 flights blackish, spotted with white; fore- 

 head blackish, cfiutiuuous with a black line 

 which borders the sides of the crown and 

 back of face, continuing across the lower 

 part of the throat ; cheeks and throat 

 white, remainder of under surface huffish 

 white, a .-jecond black stripe cro.ssing the 

 breast ; chest slightly greyish, especially 

 at the sides, which are laintly liarred ; 

 under Uiil-coverts black ; beak and feet 

 bluish grey; iris black. 



riic female is a little .smaller, moie slim, 

 duller in colour, p.iler on the crown, and 

 his slightly narrower black bars acro?s 

 throat and chest. 



Bicheno'.s Finch inhibits the interior. 

 the northern and the eastern portions of 

 Australia. It is n•dtul.^!ly tame and con- 

 fiding, and as it spends much of its time 



