FINCHES. lOI 



Finches for the Aviary. — These pretty little 

 creatures are charming pets for the drawing-room, 

 and of the utmost interest to the lover of birds. 

 They are kept more particularly for their beauty 

 of plumage. They are thoroughly happy in each 

 other's society, and sit all together in a row, on a 

 long perch, packed as closely as possible, caressing 

 and pluming each other. There are many varieties ; 

 and they may be classed under the general terms of 



Waxbills and Avadavats. — Chief amons: the 

 many, we would mention the waxbills, which do not, 

 as a general rule, sing any thing like a song ; but 

 they chirp considerably, and it is a soft, pleasant 

 warble. The orange-cheeked waxbill is a beautiful 

 smooth little bird, always as neat as possible, with 

 every feather in its place, vermilion beak, gray 

 head, neck and throat brown. The female is about 

 the same in general appearance. The zebra, or 

 orange-breasted waxbill, is quite small, but very 

 pleasing; and, as he is scarcely three inches long, 

 he is considered desirable. The St. Helena waxbills 

 are considerably larger, being about four inches and 

 a half in length. A remarkable feature of this 

 species is, that all the feathers have transverse, 

 blackish, wavy lines over them, and look very soft 

 and silky. The gray-blue is of delicate slate-color 

 over the whole body, with silvery-white spots on 

 the sides. The courdon bleu, or, as some call this 

 well-known finch, crimson-eared waxbill, is also an 

 African bird, and one of great beauty. The male 

 has a soft, pleasing song, and is usually to be heard 



