1 74 Bird-keeping. 



green and yellow bird with a black crest, which comes 

 also from South America ; except that the latter re- 

 quires more warmth. 



The NONPAREIL FINCH (Cyanospiza or Emberiza 

 tiris), called by American authors the " Painted Finch " 

 or " Painted Bunting," is also spoken of by Buffon as 

 "the Pope," he says on account of his beautiful violet 

 hood. He is a most splendid bird when in full plu- 

 mage; but as he moults twice a year, and the young 

 males do not acquire their full plumage till they are 

 three years old, he is seldom met with in the perfection 

 of his colouring. I have a beautiful specimen of the 

 bird, which at the present moment has a violet head 

 and neck, a red circle round the eyes, the iris brown ; 

 the beak and feet brown ; the upper part of the back 

 yellowish-green, the lower part of the back and the 

 throat, chest, and whole under part of the body, as 

 well as the upper tail-coverts, of a bright red ; the 

 wing-coverts are green, the quills reddish-brown tinged 

 with green, the tail is reddish-brown. He is about the 

 size of the Robin, and very much resembles that bird 

 in his attitudes and characteristics, and his song is a 

 sweet low warble, much of the same character as that 

 of our winter songster. He is fed upon canary and 

 millet-seed, and is exceedingly fond of flies and spiders, 

 which he ought to have, to keep him in health. If I 

 offer him one, he darts across the cage to seize it, and 

 takes it from my hand fearlessly; and when he is 



