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black crest which falls low down on the neck like a dragoon’s

plume; the breast and face are salmony brown, wings and back

ashen grey, tail black with white tip, rump white, flights

inclined to black; ‘jackdaw’ eye, beak yellow with blue base,

feet yellow.


There were, as I said, three youngsters ; they are brown

little things, with jackdaw eyes ; a black spot on the crown where

the crest will be some day ; yellow beaks, but no blue on them

so far, and pink feet.


I have had both them and the Andamans specially photo¬

graphed, and I only hope that the Society will see its way to

publish these pretty groups.


They say that confession is good for the soul ; therefore

let me end with one. If men are honest, they will tell you that

their success in life is more of a wonder to them than it is to

you!_


A FEW GORGEOUSLY-COLOURED FOREIGN

-CAGE BIRDS.


By A. Savage.


Ever since I have kept foreign birds, at this time of the

year, when in their gorgeous plumage, I have always been

struck with Weaver-birds and a desire to possess a few. But

the bad character given them in most books on foreign birds has

prevented me from purchasing the various varieties generally

imported. However, I could not resist the temptation any

longer, and last month I bought a cock bird of each of the

following : Oryx or Grenadier Weaver-bird, Orange Bishop,

Napoleon Weaver-bird, Madagascar Weaver-bird, Nonpareil-

finch, and an Indigo-bird ; intending to keep them, by themselves,

in a large cage in the dining-room, to enjoy the sight of the

brilliant plumage of this little collection.


The idea did not work ; I had reckoned without taking

into consideration “ the hand that rocks the cradle and rules the

world,” and the possessor of that hand pronounced the large

cage in the dining-room a nuisance (from want of space), and the

birds had to be turned into the aviary with the collection of

various other kinds already there.


When I made the purchase, with the exception of the

Nonpareil and the Indigo, the birds were off colour, in their

hen-Sparrow garb, and consequently bought at cheap prices ;

but the few coloured feathers which were appearing on all of



