ia8 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



and only provide these in our Spring. They nest equally well in a 

 cage or flying freely in the bird-room ; are peaceable with other birds 

 and one another ; several pairs can be kept together. For feeding 

 their young, they require fresh small ants' cocoons, or must be 

 accustomed to soaked ants' cocoons, with egg-bread and always soaked 

 seeds. At times they die quite as abundantly as the little Amaranths, 

 and after their arrival are even more delicate. With intelligent 

 attention, however, they live for many years, especially in the bird- 

 room, but also in fancy cages. Almost always to be had from the 

 dealers." 



" Male and female warble a melodious bar ; love dance comical 

 accompanied by loud, piercing, not unpleasant, whistling sounds ; a 

 connoisseur and lover of singing would indeed not be enraptured. 

 Mules reared with the little Helena-pheasant." 



My first pair of Crimson-eared Waxbills, as these little Finches 

 are sometimes called, was given to me by my friend Mr. J. Johnston 

 (brother of the well-known African traveller). I had previously never 

 seen living examples and, noting their remarkable beauty, was afraid 

 that my good friend had been obliged to pay an enormous price for 

 them. However, on this head, he soon reassured me. 



Although, at that period of my bird-keeping, I had but poor 

 accommodation for my feathered favourites, I succeeded in keeping that 

 first pair of Crimson-ears for eighteen months, and with a winter tem- 

 perature, which often fell as low as 40 degrees Fahr. Of course they 

 eventually died of a pulmonary disease. 



In my present bird-room I have, from time to time, had a good 

 many pairs, none of which, until 1893, lived very long; most of them, 

 indeed, dying within from two to three weeks. Undeterred by the 

 warnings of A. F. Wiener, who incorrectly states that this species will 

 not live without a winter temperature of from 60 to 70 degrees Fahr. ; 

 I determined, in 1891, to try the effect of cool treatment. During the 

 Autumn, therefore, I turned out a pair of the Cordon Bley into my 

 most exposed cold aviary. The hen bird soon after was frightened to 

 death by a cat springing at the wire-work, in the attempt to catch it 

 as it clung there ; but the cock bird lived on, flying briskly about, 

 with his shrill key- whistle going from morning to night, he stood six 

 and even eight degrees of frost, and positively seemed to enjoy the 

 cold ; but, late in December, eight degrees, accompanied by fog killed 

 him. 



Now, there is a great discrepancy between 24 and 70 degrees ; so 

 that I am convinced that a bird strong enough to enjoy the former 



