THE SxapHUR-CoLouREn SEED-EATER. 29 



dark or light purple spots, with here and there a wavy streak, axis, 

 10'", diara. 7'". 



The colonists call the Grosbeak " Geel Saysie." Layard. 



Russ says that this bird is the image of the St. Helena Seed- 

 eater, but considerably larger and more powerful, almost equal to a 

 Bullfinch. It would also be a welcome addition to the bird-room and 

 cage ; but it is extremely rare and only brought home singly. 



Knowing what I do of the spiteful fits which occasionally come 

 over the St. Helena Seed-eater, I should recommend amateurs to be 

 careful to associate the Sulphur-coloured Seed-eater with those birds 

 which are strong enough to defend themselves against him. Still, 

 it does not follow, that, because he is big and powerful, this Seed- 

 eater is necessarily spiteful. I once possessed a White- throated 

 Seed-eater, a great ugly brute of a bird, with almost the face of a 

 Grosbeak, but in character it was as mild and gentle as any bird I 

 ever had : according to Russ it is a lovely singer, but my bird never 

 paid for its keep ; consequently, though a rare Seed-eater, I cannot 

 ^ay I greatly regretted its ultimate death. 



Food similar to that recommended for the Cape Canary. Mr. 

 Abrahams wrote to me in 1893 that he had a specimen of this species : 

 but at the time I was not feeling very wealthy, and knowing that a 

 bird so rarely imported would in all probability be expensive, did not 

 trouble myself more about it : indeed, had I purchased this Serin, I must 

 have turned it in with my St. Helena Seed-eater and Green Singing 

 Finches ; and in all probability they would have quarrelled : it could 

 not have been kept in a separate cage, for all, excepting the small 

 Canary-cages (which are only used for sick birds) were occupied either 

 by birds paired for breeding, by Waxbills, Cardinals, or Canaries, 

 Linnets and Goldfinches in company. 



