FOR CAGES AND A VI ARIES. 27 



straighter bill, and by the less intensely red colour of 

 the latter, as well as of her legs. 



It may not be generally known that a pair of these 

 birds nest in confinement if they are provided with a 

 suitable lodging, that is, if they are placed in an enclosure 

 of sufficient size to enable them to freely exercise their 

 handsome, wings, with some handy ledge of artificial rock- 

 work, on which to construct their inartificial nest of 

 sticks : but they will breed under such circumstances 

 freely and successfully, too ; and now that they are so 

 expensive, rearing a few of them would be well worth 

 the attention of an amateur who has, or could have 

 made, a suitable place for their simple requirements. 



In the matter of food, there need not be much difficulty, 

 for if a full supply of their natural diet, as indicated 

 above, cannot be obtained, they are not particular, and will 

 do well on all kinds of table scraps and in addition a 

 few insects of some kind. 



The thievish propensities of the Chough fully equal 

 those of the Raven, the Magpie and the Jackdaw, and the 

 same care must be taken in his case not to leave any 

 glittering objects of small size anywhere, where he would 

 be likely to see them, and be tempted to bear them off. 



The colour of the plumage is black, with steel-blue 

 reflections on the head and neck, and green on the tail 

 and wings. The young have little of this metallic gloss, 

 and the female is less conspicuous in this respect than 

 her mate. 



A full-grown Chough weighs fourteen or fifteen ounces. 



THE CIRL BUNTING. See under Buntings. 



THE CITRIL FINCH. See Finch (Serin). 



