27



that it is the slightly lighter colour of the general plumage, but

especially of the fore rather than the hind parts, that indicates

the female. These very light coloured examples are simply

immature. I hesitate to express an opinion in respedt of the

flank spot. I make these statements not for the purpose of

dogmatising but of inviting discussion.


One more digression, started by Mr. Hawkins’ Long¬

tailed Grassfinches, and then I have done.


Last October, Mr. Seth-Smith drew attention to the vary¬

ing colour of the bills of this species, and says (p. 258), “ I have

sometimes thought there must be two distinct forms.” In

November (p. 19), Miss Hodgson supported this view on the

authority of a German avicultural paper. I have myself kept the

species continuously since 4th May, 1897, and have found over

and over again that the normal colour of the bills of my birds is

of the yellow type, but that they assume the red (I use the

expressions red and yellow, although not strictly accurate, for

the sake of convenience) as the nesting season approaches. The

colour of the bill will completely change from the yellow to the

red in a few days. Strong vigorous males, especially if kept in the

warm, will retain the red bill for months, while I have known a

female adopt and lose the red in less than a fortnight. I notice

too that, as my birds grow older and lose vigour, they have less

of the red. Mr. Seth-Smith has found that the Yellow Bills have

the longest tails. If my birds are anything, I feel inclined to

say that they are Yellow Bills, but never have I had such a tail as

we see repeatedly at the Shows. Now my birds for the most

part have had to rough it in my open, exposed aviary during a

great part of the year, and have had but very moderate warmth

during the winter. I have not treated them thus because I

consider them hardy, but because I have nothing better to offer

them. If I could, I would follow Mr. Todd’s example (Vol. III.,

p. 210) ; and it was Mr. Todd who first and so quickly reared the

species. I totally disagree with those who tell us that the species

is hardy. The Long Tail is a strong bird, and will stand a great

deal for a time, but is none the less greatly affected by cold.

Occasionally I have kept a pair of these birds in a warmer place ;

and I look back and find I have recorded how these latter have

become prettier and prettier, and have acquired a bloom on their

feathers which is never seen on the others, and which with these

is lost as soon as they are turned loose. When I regard the

beautiful condition of many exhibited specimens, sometimes

Yellow Bills but oftener Red, I can see at a glance that they have

been kept under totally different conditions from my own. I



