38 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



Dr. Russ thus speaks of this species : " Unassuming, grey, elegant 

 Songster. Already glorified by Vieillot as Senegali-chanteur and 

 designated as ' musica.' It was unknown to us among the bird 

 amateurs until 1868 ; it was sold in quantities erroneously as the female 

 of the Atlas-bird (Steel- Finch). Through my description in the 

 Gartenlaube, it quickly gained favour in the widest circles, and since 

 then has been naturalized in all bird-rooms, and also has been already 

 bred in many instances. First of all, Mr. Dorpmuller, the Architect 

 of Gladbach, reared it through several generations, and various amateurs 

 followed ; after me, Dr. Franken, of Badeubaden : Engineer Henschel, 

 of Innleitenmlihle, and others, have also reared crosses between it and 

 Canary hens ; Dr. Franken, the like, with the Mozambique Serin 

 (Green Singing Finch), and Angola Linnet (Yellow- rttmped Seed-eater)." 



"Graceful, loveable and peaceable (yet not with its own kind and 

 the most nearly related species), in the bird-room, as in the aviary, he 

 earns the good-will and affection of all amateurs. Song uncommonly 

 powerful and melodious, reminds one of those of the Woodlark and 

 the Canary bird. Nest open, ornamentally formed of stalks, fibres, 

 little threads, cotton and the like. Laying four to five eggs, pale blue, 

 at times greenish, finely speckled and spotted with reddish or brown ; 

 incubated by the female only in thirteen days. Nestling down bluish 

 white. Young plumage only fainter and more washed out than that of 

 the old bird. The little beak white ; the feet flesh coloured. Change 

 of colour with the moult, so that the young bird in its new feathering 

 shows the adult plumage. Moult in our Spring months." 



Dr. Russ adds that it is delicate when it arrives in Europe, but 

 when acclimatized, is vigorous and enduring : my own experience 

 would have led me to conclude that it was never delicate ; for the two 

 cocks which I have previously noted as picked up cheaply, were quite 

 newly imported and somewhat rough in feathering ; yet neither ever 

 showed the least indication of weakness ; but, from the beginning, 

 were as sturdy and active as at the present time. I have never known 

 this species to quarrel with any other; I found it always peaceful 

 towards the Green Singing Finch. I have, however, seen it pursued by 

 the White-throated Finch : which was unable to catch it, and I have 

 seen the Green Singing Finch dash after it once or twice during the 

 breeding season also, without being able to overtake it. My two last 

 males of this species were eventually killed by a male Pileated Finch, 

 and two other examples which I subsequently bought, in the hope 

 that they would prove to be cock birds, proved when in good plumage 

 to be both hens. 



