GENERAL REMARKS. 67 



The song, which though not so loud and 

 vigorous as the Indigo Finch, is still very 

 sweet, running into delightful warble, and is 

 continued all summer. They will breed in 

 confinement, if plenty of room is allowed 

 them, and might probably mate with the 

 Canary, which would produce mules of un- 

 rivalled beauty. The male is of a vermilion 

 red, with the head and back of the neck of a 

 rich blue, back of a golden green, wings clouded 

 red, and the tail greenish, sometimes brown. 



They are very delicate, and will not bear 

 the slightest cold. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



Any other of the Finch tribe may be fed 

 on seeds of the same character, generally, as 

 those mentioned in the preceding pages. The 

 same treatment will answer for the whole 

 order, though a little distinction should be 

 made as to the habits of the species in a wild 

 state. Cleanliness, as regards the cages, and 

 a constant supply of fresh water and gravel 

 daily, is essential to the health of these beau- 

 tiful birds. Bird fanciers should take care 

 that their servants do their humble depen- 

 dants ample justice. Neglect them one day, 

 and feed at different times on each day, and 

 soon will the owner find a change in his fa- 

 vorite, who will pine away gradually, lose 

 his spirits, and finally end his career by a 

 lingering death. 



