ip6 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



difficult of all. Not delicate, it so far resembles the Grey Astrild. 

 Hitherto hybrids have been bred between the Orange-cheeked and 

 Grey Astrild and the little Helena-pheasant (St. Helena Waxbill). 



" Song chirping, not remarkable; Courtship expanding the tail 

 elegantly, and moving it almost rythmically from side to side, the 

 head comically stretched upwards, with jerky movements, dancing round 

 and pursuing the female with loud chirruping, presents a most fascinating 

 picture. Is one of the most abundant Astrilds." 



In his Fremdlandisclicn Stubcnvogel, Dr. Russ says : " If towards 

 twilight the community of the bird-room, and especially the Ornamental 

 Finches, exhibit unusual agility so that they either assiduously crowd 

 round the feeding-place for the last time, or are already wrangling for 

 the most comfortable resting-places, the Orange-cheeked Astrild, called 

 by the dealers Little Orange-cheek, appears to be one of the most 

 lively. The whole assembly is innocently engaged with its various 

 occupations, when the observer makes an unintentionally hasty move- 

 ment, and immediately with shrill tsit, tsit! the male Orange-cheek 

 scares all its associates into flight. It is in fact the sentinel among 

 these birds. In due form, with argus eyes, it seems to watch over 

 the safety of the entire community ; if the window of a passing cab 

 throws a light on the ceiling of the bird-room, if a paper kite or a 

 flock of pigeons rises into the air, -but particularly in the case of any 

 unusual appearance close at hand, as for instance if a lady visitor 

 has brought her muff with her the warning-cry of the little Orange- 

 cheek always terrifies this whole feathered world out of its tranquility, 

 and frequently disturbs their rest for hours." 



Everyone who has kept the Orange- cheeked Waxbill in a large 

 aviary must have noticed this highly nervous peculiarity, indeed, it is 

 such a nuisance that, in my opinion, the Orange-cheek is better kept 

 in a cage, where he cannot disturb the peace, and upset the nerves of 

 a whole room full of birds. Even, without 5. melpodus screaming 

 " caution," all Waxbills are sufficiently timid, and often simultaneously 

 get a scare and fly up in a crowd for no apparent reason ; when one 

 is quietly sitting in a corner watching them. 



I have not been able to discover any account of the habits of this 

 very common African species in a wild state. One would have 

 supposed that one, at least, of the many naturalists and explorers who 

 have visited West Africa, would have taken the trouble to record a 

 few facts respecting the birds which swarmed around them : indeed 

 they have done so in the case of many, far less deserving of their 

 attention than 5. melpodus. 



