THE FINCHES. 55 
The young, when first fledged, are absolutely unlike 
‘their parents, having plain drab plumage and black bills. 
The bills soon become pink, but the full plumage, 
especially the black-and-white head, takes some time to 
develop, and birds in a state of transition may often 
be seen in the bird-dealers’ cages; though I have never 
seen a guile young one in such collections. 
Although Java Sparrows look particularly uniform in 
appearance, they have produced a well-marked variety, 
which is cultivated in a tame state in China and Japan 
as Canaries are with us. This is the White Java Sparrow, 
also a common inmate of the bird-dealers’ cages ; it is, 
however, much dearer than the wild grey birds. It is a 
beautiful creature in its way, looking as if moulded from 
snow, and retaining the pink beak of the naturally 
coloured bird. A good many specimens show some of the 
natural grey colour, chiefly on the back, and such 
should not, of course, be bought ; but it is generally easy 
to get quite pure white ones. It is not so very difficult 
to tell the sexes apart in the white tame Javas, as the 
difference in the bills seems to be more marked than in 
the wild birds. Of course these white birds will breed 
readily in captivity ; so will the wild grey ones, if they 
have enough room; and both may be kept together 
without much fear of inter-mixture if they have mates 
of their own colour. For nesting they need cocoanut 
husks or small boxes with holes in them, and a supply 
of hay, coir, &e. When they have young, some soft food, 
such as egg and biscuit or satoo, should be provided, 
and it is as well to get them used to this beforehand 
