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tail is always red, and at once proclaims their identity, although

in no other respect do they resemble their parents. While

Parrot and Gouldian Finches leave the nest with beads on each

side of the gape, the Rufous-tails do not; but they have their

peculiarity, which consists of a portion of the lower mandible at

the base being white, similar to the Scarlet Tanager, but less

even in proportion. My wife says she observed this white

portion split when the young gaped to be fed, and unless she is

mistaken, both mandibles must be coloured, in which case the

upper to a much less extent than the lower. This white portion

gradually faded, and on 7th September had entirely disappeared.

White spots had made their appearance on 26th August, a few

red on 29th August, and one young cock at least was noticed

to be singing on 31st August.


As I did not feel equal to describing their plumage accurate¬

ly, outside aid was sought, and I must consider myself extremely

lucky to have such a member as Mr. Jas. F. Dewar so near.

On nth September the family of eight were put into a small

show-cage the better for observation, and conveyed thither.

Mr. Dewar’s description of the young is as follows :—Back and

wings drab, breast fawn, lighter over abdomen to covert feathers

of tail, under side of tail dark brown, top side rusty red, upper

mandible dark brown, under mandible lighter towards the base

and beginning to show pink, legs and feet dark flesh ; five show¬

ing white spots, two red spots quite distinctly, three slightly ;

eye dark centre with brown ring giving it the appearance of

being larger than that of the parents’. Mr. Dewar also hazards

the opinion that the brood is made up of four hens and two

cocks.


They apparently reach maturity at an early age, as on the

9th September, we observed from a window overlooking the

outdoor part of the aviary, a very amusing sight. A young cock

with a piece of fibre quite eight inches long in his bill, was seen

to sidle up to another of the brood—presumably a hen—turn his

head and tail to one side, perform a ridiculous love - dance,

singing the while exactly as does the Cordon-bleu under the

same circumstances, and enough to make his father green with

envy. Nor does their precocity end here. They are always the

first to investigate the soft-food vessel, and when the bath is

introduced the other inmates of their abode have to give place

and play the part of spectator until the ablutions of the all-

important Rufous-tails are completed. Young Gouldians are

certainly very wise, but since the Rufous-tails have come on the

scene the}" (the Gouldians) must take a seat far back.



