1 8 8 Bird-keep ing. 



it the " Red-collared Bengaly," and in the Zoological 

 Society's list it bears the name of the "Fasciated 

 Finch." It is about the size of an English Sparrow ; 

 the ground colour of the plumage, above and beneath 

 is of a delicate greyish fawn-colour, spangled all over 

 with short angular black marks, one or two of which 

 are at the point of each feather. The throat is white, 

 crossed by a bright red bar, which also covers the 

 ears. The middle of the breast is marked by some 

 large white spots, below which the body has a patch 

 of cinnamon-colour ; the wings and tails are blackish- 

 brown, some of the feathers being tipped with white. 

 The hen has no red collar, but her feathers are beau- 

 tifully smooth and spangled like those of the cock. 

 The beak and feet are grey. They make a harsh kind 

 of twittering, and their song is somewhat croaking. 

 They may be fed on canary and millet -seed, and 

 should have chickweed and plain cracknel biscuits 

 occasionally. They have a very bad name in most bird- 

 rooms, being accused of being tyrants and bullies, 

 persecuting the helpless little Waxbills, and flying like 

 cowards from the brave little Zebras, or any smaller 

 bird that will withstand them or resent their pilfering 

 habits. 



The CAMBASSO, CUMPASSO, or the LITTLE DOCTOR 

 (Amadina or Vidua mtens) is, I believe, the same bird 

 as that described by Swainson as the " Glossy Black 

 Bengaly," and by Bechstein as the "Glossy Finch." 



