Finches. 1 75 



allowed to fly about the room, he will catch flies for 

 himself, either pouncing upon them in the window, or 

 taking them on the wing, in the course of a rapid dash 

 across the room. He is a sociable bird, and very 

 inquisitive, hopping about on the table, and examining 

 everything he sees ; and when he is tired of his sudden 

 flights about the room, he will go to a vase of flowers 

 placed before a mirror, and warble away to his image 

 reflected in the glass. A bird of the same species 

 which I had for some years was equally tame, but 

 although a very pretty bird, never acquired the perfect 

 plumage, but retained the colouring of a young male 

 of two years old. He had a blue head, red breast, and 

 green back. He was subject to epileptic fits, and when 

 seized by one, was always brought round by being 

 plunged head-downwards into cold water. Two or 

 three sudden dips were sufficient to revive him ; he 

 sat up, plumed himself, and was all right again. He 

 died of old age at last. The female is not nearly so 

 pretty as the male : she is a yellowish-green bird, with 

 brown and green wings and tail, and the young cocks 

 resemble her in plumage. 



The Nonpareil is a native of North America, ranging 

 from Canada to Mexico and Brazil, but only to be 

 found in the colder parts in summer : its nests are 

 found mostly in the orange and citron-trees. Buffon 

 says that the Dutch breed these birds in their aviaries, 

 but it is found that only one pair can be safely kept, 



