n6 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



order to obtain a few bread-crumbs. The call-note consists of a sharp 

 chirp, the song is similar, though not devoid of melody. I rarely 

 noticed this little bird by day on trees or shrubs ; they prefer to 

 remain on the ground, in draining ditches, on dung-heaps or places 

 where the kitchen-refuse lies, also on walls, roofs and windows ; and 

 they are very unwilling to leave situations to which they have taken 

 a fancy, so long as men reside in the neighbourhood." 



" Hartmann observed whole clouds of the Pigmy Blood-Finch on 

 the Blue Nile in May. I only met with this species in any unusual 

 numbers in one locality in the town of Dongolah. There one discovers 

 a tolerably extensive garden, consisting mostly of Lemon-trees. In 

 the shelter and shade of the latter place the Blood-Finches are accus- 

 tomed, and especially at midsummer, to assemble to take their night's 

 repose. With lively and shrill piping and chirping they meet towards 

 sundown, and pass a good time in noise before they go to rest." 



This is probably the most sensitive to cold of all the African 

 Waxbills ; indeed, I found one night in an aviary, with a temperattire 

 of 50 degrees, destroyed it. I believe, however, that in a breeding- 

 cage, of about two feet cubic measure, and with a box warmly lined 

 with hay and moss, to which it might retire at pleasure, this little 

 bird might be acclimatized as readily as its relatives in other genera 

 of Wa- 'jills. Nevertheless, a pair purchased early in 1897 and turned 

 into a flight-cage so prepared, only lived about eight da}'S. Even the 

 apparently hardy Tits and Wren of our own country are totally unable 

 to resist cold, unless provided with a night shelter. 



When acclimatized the African Fire- Finch is tolerably hardy, and 

 will live for years in a moderately warm temperature ; and if anything 

 approaching its natural climate can be provided, there is not the least 

 difficulty in breeding it, either in a large nest-box, German canary- 

 cage, or a bush. 



Dr. Russ calls this the " Little Amaranth," or " Little Red 

 Astrild." He says : " This Ornamental Finch must be reckoned 

 amongst the most beautiful of all foreign birds." 



" Vieillot has already successfully reared the Amaranth, called by 

 him Petit Senegale rouge. Indeed, not one of all the Astrilds nests so 

 easily as this. The nest most charmingly neat, concealed in the most 

 dissimilar contrivances : Hartz cages with little baskets ; abroad, nests 

 which have not been used are taken possession of, covered nest-boxes, 

 holes of any kind, also open nest-baskets, if concealed under over- 

 hanging shrubbery ; the nest is never placed openly in a bush. It is 

 built on a groundwork of rather coarse stalks and dead leaves or 



