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THE RED-BACKED BUNTING.


Sir.—I shall be very grateful if any member will kindly identify a

pair of birds I have just purchased. The dealer from whom I bought them

calls them Yellow-breasted Finches, and says that they came from Asia,

and fed on canary seed and mealworms.


The birds are about the size of a Java Sparrow, but much more active¬

looking. The back is brown-green, with narrow, regular, black marks

(about lialf-an-incli long) running down it. The wings and tail are also

brown-green, but each feather has a light, dull yellow edge, giving the

bird something the appearence of a Lizard Canary. The breast and

under parts are bright Canary yellow, while the head and throat are rich

chestnut brown, making a very beautiful contrast. The beak and legs are

both flesh-coloured, and the middle and hind toes are larger than the

others. The eyes are very round and black.


In the cock, the Canary yellow meets at the back of the neck, but

in the hen the top of the head is green-brown, and merges into the back

colouring. They are decidedly handsome birds, very quiet and intelligent.

I have found them very fond of mealworms, and they are birds that soon

seem to get tame. Can you kindly tell me, (rst) their correct name, (2nd)

their proper treatment, (3rd) about their value per pair.


Might I make a small suggestion while writing, namely, that in anv

article in the Magazine where the Latin name of a bird is used, the English

one should also he added. To any Member, who, like myself, is not a verv

good Latin scholar, it would make the interesting accounts of different

birds much simpler reading, than when a book of reference has to be

turned to, every few minutes, to translate a Latin name. R. Aederson.



The following reply has been sent to Miss Aldersou :


I have no doubt that your birds are what are called Japanese

Buntings; though whether they are obtainable wild in Japan, is doubtful.

Red-backed Bunting used to be the dealer’s name for the kind.


Your description of the back is perhaps more applicable to the

common Indian species, Emheriza luteola, known as the Brown-headed

Bunting, but I do not think this bird has been much imported latelv,

whereas the Red-backed Bunting has been fairly common in the market.

I should feed on canary, oats, and sunflower, with two or three mealworms

daily. Prices vary according to the supply in the market, but I should not

dream of paying more than 10/- a pair for them myself; indeed I think (if

I remember rightly) I refused a pair at a lower price. A. G. Buti.er.



PARSON AND GRASS FINCHES.


Sir —I have found Parson Finches, also the Long-tailed Grass Finches,

veritable demons in a small aviary—killing Mannikins, Nonpareils, and

Waxbills, by tearing open the skin between the shoulders—Is this their

usual disposition, or is it due, perhaps, to the aviary being too small for the

weaker or less aggressive birds to get out of the murderers’ way ?


J. VlNER LEEDER.


The following reply has been sent to Mr. Leeder:


In answer to your question, I may say that, more often than not, I



