THE LAVENDER-FINCH. 119 



flight feathers below sooty-grey; tail feathers below slaty-grey. Length 

 34 inches. Beak black with a vinous red suffusion at the sides of the 

 upper, and base of the lower mandible ; legs blackish grey ; iris greyish 

 olive. 



I have found this Waxbill even more delicate than the Crimson- 

 eared species, an out-door aviary suits it admirably during the summer 

 months, but, however vigorous its health may seem, the first sharp 

 frost frequently kills it. Even in an aviary with a winter temperature 

 of fifty degrees, I have rarely known it to live long : a cage such as 

 I have already recommended for the preceding species, and the com- 

 panionship of other delicate Waxbills, are the only means of saving 

 its life, unless a high temperature can be ensured during the cold 

 weather. 



The flight of the Lavender Finch, or "Cinereous Waxbill" as it 

 is sometimes called, is extremely rapid; indeed, I specially noticed 

 that, when associated with other Waxbills, Mannikins, and English 

 Finches in my cold aviary, this little Astrild flashed past them like 

 an arrow, and would even cross their paths on the return journey 

 before they reached their destination. 



Dr. Russ has a number of trivial names for this Waxbill ; that 

 at the head of his remarks on the species is Das blaugraue Rot/is- 

 chwanzchen (the Little Blue-grey Red-tail), he says : " The beauty of 

 this lovely and delicate little bird is quite remarkable, and so forcibly 

 recalls the tropics in the splendour of its colouring, that every friend 

 of birds, even one who has the very slightest knowledge of the bird- 

 world, must recognize it as an inhabitant of distant zones." 



" The Red-tail only conies to us occasionally, although sometimes 

 in considerable numbers at once, and frequently fails to come for 

 many a long day. The dealers are not attached to the Red-tails, 

 since they commonly arrive badly feathered, and in a deplorable con- 

 dition, from the ships to the bird-shops, and when forwarded on 

 subsequently, die too readily in hosts from damp, chills, &c. Kept 

 together in narrow cages, the Red-tails are continually plucking one 

 another and then succumb to every fluctuation of temperature what- 

 soever. In the bird-room, or in a roomy flight-cage, with suitable 

 care, they quickly regain their feathers and very rarely become bald 

 again. They should always be provided, in the flight chamber, or 

 if kept in pairs in a cage, with a suitable retreat for the night. 

 When they have recovered they are not so sensitive to cold as other 

 apparently less delicate birds, and moreover, when they begin nesting 

 they show themselves in their full beauty. Incessantly restless and 



