THE ALARIO FINCH. 41 



quite distinct from the everlasting Goldfinch and Linnet mules dear to 

 the Canary fancier. In matters relating to birds, I must confess myself 

 to be an Athenian. 



Sharpe and Layard tell us : " This is the Berg-Canarie (Mountain 

 Canary) of the colonists. We have received it from the Knysna, 

 Malmesbury, Swellendam and Colesberg, and Mr. Rickard has procured 

 it at Port Elizabeth ; he writes : ' I fancy this is the species much 

 prized by the lads in Port Elizabeth, who call it the 'Namaqua'; it 

 only appears at long intervals, but in considerable numbers when it 

 does occur ; they sing well and become very tame.' ' 



"It is not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Nel's Poort (Beau- 

 fort), ranging in small flocks among the thorn-bushes and feeding on 

 grass seeds. It often intermingles with flocks of the common A. astrild." 



" Its song is very sweet and sustained, for which reason it is kept 

 in confinement, which it endures very well. It seems to vary some- 

 what in the distribution of its colours. Its eggs, sent by Mr. Jackson 

 and others, rather resemble those of the Cape Canary, being white, 

 tinged with green, more or less spotted, blotched, and streaked, chiefly 

 at the obtuse end, with various shades of brown. Axis 8J, diameter 6. 

 Mr. Anderson says : ' I only met with this pretty Finch in Great 

 Naniaqua-Land, where it occurred in small flocks at the water.' ' 



Dr. Russ tells us that this Finch, " when acclimatized, is not 

 delicate ; is peaceable and harmless ; is quarrelled with and pursued 

 by its relatives at breeding time. It has not itself been bred. Dr. 

 Frauken and Harres, the Architect, bred mules with Canary hens. 

 Song continuing the whole year, soft, flute-like, but low pitched." In 

 his larger book he only adds Dr. Franken's experiences in crossing the 

 Alario Finch with the Canary, which appear to have been far less 

 satisfactory than those of Mr. Leslie, inasmuch as he seems only to 

 have obtained one hen from six sittings of eggs. In 1896, and again 

 in 1897, my friend, Mr. Horatio Fillmer, of Brighton, was successful 

 in breeding this species, and apparently without much trouble. 



The illustrations are from skins of specimens formerly living in 

 the author's collection. 



