150 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



under surface pale grey, barred with white, most distinctly on the 

 abdomen; vent white; sides of body, flanks and thighs dull brown, 

 barred with white; under tail-coverts somewhat similar; under wing- 

 coverts and axillaries white; the edge of the wing red; flights dusky 

 below, with greyish inner edges. Length 4J inches; beak black; legs 

 pale brown; iris red. 



Dr. Russ says of this, which he calls the " Aurora- Astrild": 

 "As it is one of the most exquisite, so also again is it one of the 

 rarest Ornamental Finches. I therefore, congratulate myself, so much 

 the more, that I first bred even it in 1873 in my bird-room. 



"Home, Central and West Africa; always only in small companies; 

 it will therefore never be abundant in the bird-trade. Its wild life 

 unknown. I received the first pair from Carl Hagenbeck in 1870, 

 and years after, two head again. 



"Tranquil in the bird-room; delight in open sunny spots, are 

 peaceful. A pair sitting at mid-day by the window in the sun, repre- 

 sents a ravishingly beautiful picture, especially the male with his 

 comical love sport; he hops round the female excitedly, curtseying, 

 with the tail raised high up, until, as if dancing, they draw near to 

 one another, both at the time calling out a monosyllabic and tolerably 

 shrill tsit, tsit. 



"The song, single melodious flute-sounds. 



" Nest in little Hartz-cage in the densest bush, over-arched, but 

 not very artistic. Laying:- four eggs; duration of incubation twelve 

 days. Young plumage dull blackish blue-grey, transversely waved on 

 the under surface ; shoulders, margins of wings, croup and tail dull 

 red ; beak horn-grey, legs blackish. Change of colour gradual and 

 slow ; the red stronger, the grey of the front of the body showing up 

 more clearly ; the lower body grows brighter and the dark waved lines 

 come up more strongly. More recently imported, occasionally, in 

 several pairs." 



Dr. C. S. Simpson writes : " The Aurora Finch is .a harmless 

 and somewhat stolid bird. I don't know why it is called the Crimson- 

 wing ' Waxbill ' : it is certainly quite different in appearance from any 

 of the other Waxbills, being a stout bird with a short tail and black 

 beak. I have had one, a cock, for about two years, but I have never 

 been able to get a hen. It appears to be partially insectivorous, and 

 is very fond of fresh ant's eggs. It is not a very interesting bird." 



I purchased a pair in 1897 and am still delighted with them.* I 

 am satisfied that they are related to the Lavender Finch, which they 



* Since writing the above the hen has died, but the cock is still in excellent health. 



