INTRODUCTION. 



FLINCHES are of all Cage-birds the most popular, not only because 



they are companionable, neat, and cleanly ; but because they are, 



with few exceptions, easy to provide for, and when not good singers, 



frequently compensate for this deficiency, by considerable beauty of 



of plumage. 



The first foreign birds which ever came into niy possession were of 

 the Finch tribe. At the time I was birds-nesting in Kent ; and, hearing 

 that a certain florist amused himself by breeding Canaries for sale, 

 I thought I should like to purchase two or three strong cock birds, 

 so as to introduce fresh blood into my stock. In his window I saw a 

 cage containing six little foreign birds, which appeared to be very 

 merry and in good feather ; though at that time the thermometer only 

 registered a temperature of about 50 degrees : their owner informed 

 me that he had no trouble with them on that score, for they did not 

 suffer even in frosty weather, though he never warmed the place by 

 artificial heat. I asked the price of these little birds, and, in my 

 ignorance of their true value, considered myself lucky to be able to 

 secure them for fifty shillings. These six birds, which consisted of a 

 pair of Amaduvade Waxbills, a pair of Black-headed Mannikins and a 

 pair of Spice Finches, were my first introduction to the so-called 

 " Foreign Fancy : " at the present time the mania for keeping these 

 charming pets has so increased, that there are very few of the regularly 

 imported species, of which specimens have not, at some time or other, 

 inhabited my cages and aviaries. 



The present work is designed to supply a want which has been 

 felt by all lovers of foreign birds ; since its object is to give a reliable 

 account of various cage-birds, popularly known as Finches, which 

 either are regularly imported, or have, from time to time, been 

 imported into this country. 



Now, it seems to me, that in works of this nature, the so-called 

 " scientific " element is too much ignored. Whereas, the Cabinet 

 Naturalist is always interested to hear of new facts respecting the life 

 history of the species which he studies, the aviculturist too often 



