206 Bird-keeping. 



between the chest and stomach, which is yellowish- 

 white ; the beak is silver-grey ; and the CHERRY 

 FINCH or MODEST GRASS FINCH (E. or ^E. modesta), 

 which has not such showy plumage, being brown on 

 the upper part of the body, the wings marked with 

 rows of white spots, and the under parts white streaked 

 with brown ; it has a cherry-brown velvet-like fore- 

 head, and a black beak. Both birds are said to be 

 very good tempered as well as beautiful, and are likely 

 to prove valuable acquisitions to amateurs. 



I have lately heard of a most lovely bird, nearly 

 allied to the Cordon Bleu, called the VIOLET-EARED 

 FINCH (E. or AL.gr anatinci), described by Dr. Russ as 

 having the upper part of the body and chest of a 

 reddish chestnut-brown, violet cheeks, and red beak, 

 the forehead, lower part of the back, and lower stomach 

 being of a beautiful ultramarine blue, the tail nearly 

 black. I believe the only specimen now in England 

 is in the possession of Mr. Wiener, although it was long 

 ago imported into Europe, and is mentioned by Buffon 

 and Vieillot as the " Grenadin," and by Bechstein as 

 the " Brazilian Finch," a misnomer, as it is only found 

 in Africa. The descriptions of the extreme beauty 

 and elegance of this bird make one hope that it may 

 again be brought into the bird market. 



The AFRICAN MANIKINS, which are of the same 

 size as the smaller Waxbills, are sometimes kept with 

 them, but they are not safely to be placed in the same 



