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CHAPTER VII. 



AVERDIVINE. Fringilla averdivina. 



This singularly beautiful and minute 

 songster, who is the smallest of all our 

 cage-birds, is occasionally brought to our 

 shores in company with the two preceding 

 species, and is highly celebrated for its 

 richness of plumage; and when we consi- 

 der his minuteness of size, for his astonish- 

 ing sweetness of song. 



His colour is a rich crimson, spotted 

 and mottled with white, resembling closely 

 the before-described markings of the 

 British Starling. His form is graceful, 

 and his actions replete with sprightliness 

 and ease. 



In confinement, where he is the most 

 sociable of birds, and may be kept in com- 

 panionship, the Averdivine may be fed 

 upon canary and millet-seed, and, in the 

 winter season, partially on bruised hemp. 



