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CORRESPONDENCE.



THE BLUISH FINCH ; PUTTING UP BIRDS FOR NESTING.


Sir, — I should much like to identify a pretty little finch that I have.

It was caught in Brazil near Santos. It has a thick bill like a Gouldian’s,

yellowish in colour. It is about the size of a Black-headed Mannikin, but

slighter in build, and with a longer tail, and is nimble, and wags its tail

like a St. Helena Finch. It is very sober in appearance, being of various

shades of grey, the head almost black, wings and back dark grey, sides

light grey, breast and belly white. It has a small triangular patch of black

under the chin, bordered by a baud of pure white which goes to the open¬

ing of the beak on both sides. The white is bordered by a stripe of black

that is placed just above the breast, and meets the black cheeks and head.

It is a charming pet, tame and lively, and always in perfect feather, except

when it moults, which it does suddenly, and remains without its tail or with

a bare head for several days. It sings like a Canary but in a much softer

tone, and will sing even at night. In Brazil it is called “ Papacape,” so the

lady who caught it in her own garden told me; but as yet I have not found

its description anywhere.


I do not quite understand what you mean bv “ Putting up your birds

for nesting.” Mine have built nests all winter and slept in them. Do you

separate the hens from the cocks in the winter?


G. Tommasi Bai.dei.LI.


The following reply was sent to the Contessa Tommasi Baldelli:


Your little Papacap& from Santos is the male Bluish F'inch

Spermophila ccerulescens ; it is found in Southern Brazil, Argentina, etc. The

female is different.


During the winter months, I do all I can to prevent my better birds

from nesting. If necessary, I segregate the sexes. As a general rule, how¬

ever, it is sufficient to keep a number of birds together in large flight cages,

especially if you do not let them have any sleeping boxes of any kind

whatever. Towards the end of May, the birds are transferred to the best

garden aviary, in which there are a large number of nesting boxes and

places of many kinds, with abundance of material; and practically every

bird goes to nest forthwith. With me, I find this course produces the most

satisfactory results. But the great mass of the birds have to take their

chance in the birdroom and general aviary. When the more delicate species

have to roost on the open perches, they require more warmth. This point

may not be disregarded with impunity. Reginald PhillippS.



BREEDING JAVA-SPARROW AND SILVERBILD HYBRIDS.


Sir, —I thought it might interest our members to know I have bred

two Hybrids (one since killed by a Saffron Finch) between a cock Grey

Java Sparrow and a hen African Silverbill.


They were born in July last year, and, as the following description of

the plumage of the survivor will show, resemble both parents.


Crown oj head and nape, pale brown ; cheeks, a light shade of pale

brown showing a distinct light coloured patch ; a blackish patch on the chin ;

back and wings, grey, but not so decided a grey as the male parent \ flight and tail



