THE YELLOW-BILLKD CARDINAL. 69 



The young bird differs much as in the preceding species. I imported 

 a handsome young cock of this bird from La Plata early in 1893 : it 

 makes a gentle and lively little cage- bird, and seems not at all of a 

 delicate constitution. At the same time, as it is a species which is now 

 seldom imported, I should not care to recommend keeping it in an 

 unheated aviary during the winter months. Unhappily, I no longer have 

 the opportunity of doing so if I would. 



Herr Wiener remarks : " In 1873 the Zoological Gardens purchased 

 a pair of Yellow-billed Cardinals, which about that time were imported 

 now and then, but have lately disappeared again from the market." It is 

 probable, however, that they never were sent to Europe in great numbers. 

 Being rarer and more local than the Red-crested Cardinal, P. capitata may 

 also be less attractive to the bird-catchers, owing to the absence of a crest 

 to its brighter red head, and to the black instead of red throat ; although 

 to the eye of one trained to admire harmonious combinations of colour, 

 the juxtaposition of carmine, black and snow-white are extremely 

 beautiful. Scientific writers speak of the crest of this species, and even 

 represent it with the red feathering raised above the nape ; but, in life, 

 this lies perfectly flat, and cannot be erected at will. 



In his notes to the Argentine Ornithology, Mr. Hudson gives no 

 facts, from personal observation, respecting this bird ; having, in all 

 probability, not met with it ; he merely quotes the following from Dr. 

 Burmeister : " This species is not uncommon near Parana, where it 

 occurs in small flocks on the river-bank, and is often seen on the stones 

 at the river's edge." 



Mr. E. W. White seems never to have met with P. capitata in a wild 

 state, for he says : " The exact locality of this species is unknown to me, 

 as I obtained it alive from a bird fancier in Buenos Ayres ; but most 

 probably it came from some part of the province of Corrientes." 



In his Handbook, Dr. Russ merely mentions the fact that this 

 species is occasionally imported, and says that " its price is very high 

 about 60 marks (nearly ^3) the pair." In London it would probably be 

 decidedly higher, but it is hardly ever imported. 



The Yellow-billed Cardinal, when associated with P. cucullata, has a 

 wholesome respect for his Red-crested cousin and usually keeps out of 

 his way ; but the sight of a mealworm temporarily dispels his fears, and 

 he dashes down and seizes it the moment it is offered : but a second one 

 he discreetly permits P. cucullata to take possession of ; he clearly 

 comprehends the difference between meum and tuum. 



In his Fremdliindischen Stubenvogel, Dr. Russ, quoting from Bur- 

 meister, says " that the egg is white, dotted with grey-brown." From 



