174 



FOEEIGN BIRDS FOR CAGE AND AVIARY. 



either occupies a deserted Weaver-bird's nest or builds 

 a nest of grass, two pairs sometimes uniting to construct 

 and occupy a single nest, which is usually placed in a 

 low bush. In form the structure is quite normal, domed, 

 and with short depressed entrance passage in front, but 

 occasionally it is said to be a mere over-arched platform, 

 open in front. It is almost always softly lined, usually 

 with flowering grass and feathers, but Mr. Aitken states 

 that he has seen countless nests, and there is no lining ; 

 his experience, therefore, seems to differ from that of 

 all other observers. From four to eight white eggs are 

 deposited, but as many as fifteen have been found in 

 one nest (probably the product of two hens). 



In May, 1895, 'Mr. Abrahams sent me a pair of this 

 species, in order that I might cross them with Striated 

 Finches, with a view to the reproduction of Bengalees. 

 In this I was unsuccessful, owing to the delicacy of the 

 Silver-bills, which did not seem to thrive in even a 

 large flight ; so that, with the hope of saving their 

 lives, I turned them loose in a spacious aviary. Both 

 birds died within a few months, having made no 

 attempt whatever at breeding. Had I succeeded, it is 

 probable that the hybrids would not have nearly re- 

 sembled the Bengalee ; indeed the experiments made by 

 Messrs. Perreau and Tatehemaker tend to prove that the 

 Bengalee was derived from the Striated Finch with a 

 subsequent cross with the nearly related Sharp-tailed 

 Finch. 



The song of the Indian Silver-bill is said to be some- 

 what harsher than that of the African species, hut I 

 never heard it. In all other respects its habits in cap- 

 tivity agree with those of the more freely imported 

 specfes. It has been bred in Germany, and Mr. Tesche- 

 maker bred dt in Devonshire in 1895. 



Although an extremely common Indian and Ceylonese 

 bird, this Silver-bill is much rarer and consequently 

 dearer in the bird market than its African cousin. One 

 reason for this may be that it has nothing like the con- 

 stitution of A. cantans, and is far more sensitive to 

 changes of temperature. 



AFRICAN SILVER-BILL (Aidemosyne cantans). 



Its upper surface is of a greyish wood-brown tint, rather 

 darker on the head, which is also slightly more golden 

 in hue; all the feather* have a slightly paler outer 

 border ; the flight-feathers and tail are blackish-brown, 

 the tail is rather long and pointed, and the bird has a 

 habit of jerking it sideways, somewhat after the manner 

 of a Waxbill, though less rapidly ; the under parts are 

 pale sandy-buff, the feathers having a whiter outer 

 border, the centre of the belly and the under tail- 

 coverts white; the bill blue-grey, the feet greyish. 

 Female rather smaller than male, more slender, and 

 with the outer flight-feathers greyer. Habitat, Southern 

 Arabia, North-Eastern Africa, a:nr" southwards to Zan- 

 zibar and Western Africa. 



Like most of the Ploceine Finches, it frequents the 

 banks of streams and cultivated lands. It is said gene- 

 rally to utilise the nests of Weaver -birds for breeding 

 purposes, lining them thickly with feathers, wool, and 

 nair, and to lay from three' to five white eggs. It is 

 more frequently seen in hedges or scrub than on the 

 ground. The nesting season is stated to be from August 

 to October, but it is probable that it extends over a 

 considerable portion of the year, as the nest 'has been 

 found in January. In captivity this Silver-bill prefers 

 the cigar-box re'ceptacle to all others for nesting in. 

 It seems to be always ready to build, and will some- 

 times lay and sit ; but, as a rule, the hens_ succumb to 

 egg-bind'ing. It has been successfully bred in Germany, 

 the young being reared entirely on regurgitated seed. 



All other food is said to be entirely ignored by the 

 parents. Mr. Farrar bred it in England in 1896, but 

 whether he was the first successful breeder in this coun- 

 try I cannot say ; with so common a species I should 

 think it highly improbable. 



I have had a great many examples of this modestly 

 coloured little bird, and my first male never sang, only 

 uttering a shrill trill like that of our Lesser Redpoll. 

 I find, however, that most males sing a pretty, soft, 

 little rippling song, which Dr. Ruas rather aptly de- 

 scribes as "resembling a little running brook." 



This and the Indian Silver-bill have been crossed 

 successfully. The African bird is very 'hardy, and the 

 males live for many years without special attention. 



RIBBON FINCK (Amcidina fasciata), 



Upper surface dull golden brown, the outer borders 

 of the feathers brighter and marked with little black 

 bars; the head rather greyer than the back, and the tail 

 quite grey ; the wing coverts greyish, with bright golden 

 brown borders to the feathers, and a short black bar on 

 the outer webs; flight-feathers grey, with paler margins ; 

 the throat of the cock is white, crossed by a semi-cir- 

 cular 'broad band of vivid crimson ; the breast and 

 abdomen pale golden or chestnut brown, with greyish 

 or Wackish bars near the outer fringes of the feathers, 

 and a few white feathers here and there, but chiefly in 

 the centre of the abdomen ; beak and legs flesh tinted. 

 The hen differs from the cock in it.s black-speckled 

 brown cheeks and paler brownish throat, the beautiful 

 crimson band 'being entirely absent. Habitat, Sene- 

 gambia to North-East Africa, and northwards to Masai- 

 land. In North-East Africa the habits of the Ribbon 

 Finch closely resemble those of the common house Spar- 

 row of Europe; they collect together in crowds, chirp, 

 dust themselves in the sand, a,nd possibly nest in holes, 

 as they do in captivity ; or they may build social n?sts 

 like the Red-headed Finch. An + inori found them breed- 

 ing in August and September in great companies, which 

 certainly gives colour to the latter supposition. 



The name of Cut-throat, which has been applied to 

 this bird, is not belied by its disposition, which is 

 naturally aggressive towards smaller and weaker birds, 

 but cowardly towards birds of equal or superior strength. 

 I, therefore, do not recommend the Ribbon Finch as a 

 safe companion for a mixed community of ornamental 

 Finches (PrachtAnken), but a pair in a flight-cage make 

 delightful pets 



Of all species the Ribbon Finch is one of the easiest 

 to breed ; but, either because it objects to odd numbers: 

 or refuses to let dead nestlings remain in the nest to 

 poison the others, it has been credited with the un- 

 natural crime of throwing its young o<ut of the nest to 

 die. I found that only the odd birds were thus disposed 

 of, so that only pairs of young ones left the nest ; but 

 my experience is not universal, for odd birds certainly 

 are sometimes reared. 



The Ribbon Finch is extremely fond of its young, 

 more so than most birds ; I know of no other species 

 which is so frantic with rage and grief* p when the young 

 (being old enough to provide for themselves) are 

 removed ; whilst the nestlings themselves are almost 

 equally distressed ; it therefore seems highly improbable 

 that such affectionate parents would wantonly destroy 

 their infants. My young Ribbon Finches were reim>d 

 entirely upon insectivorous food, which I supplied <l<iily 

 in a small pot. I find this food usuallv sufficient for any 

 of the small Finches when breeding, though I sometimes 

 give a piece of Madeira cake or sponge cake for a change. 



Cage-bred Ribbon Finches become wonderfully tame, 

 and not o'nly feed from the fingers, but sing for their 



