THE GOULDIAN FINCH. 169 



explanation is correct, the varieties of Gouldian Finches are about 

 equal in value to the domesticated races of Pigeons ; they are equally 

 fertile inter se, and, therefore, have no claim to be called species. It, 

 however, seems extremely probable, from the fact that the young of 

 both forms at first develop black heads, that the Red-headed race is of 

 comparatively recent origin, has been evolved from the black, and has 

 a tendency to crop up as a simple variation from the black original; 

 which, owing to the probable preference shown to the more gaudy 

 males by the hens, would tend to increase ; until, finally, the Black- 

 headed phase would be obliterated. 



As it has been supposed, by some aviculturists, that the influx of 

 Gouldian Finches into the English bird-market, in about 1891-2, 

 represented their first importation in any quantities ; I would refer 

 them to Dr. Russ' Gefiederte Welt for July 1887, where they will find 

 Mr. Abrahams not only advertising the receipt of a consignment of 

 these birds, but giving a full account of the change from the young 

 green and grey plumage to the full adult dress of both P. gouldice and 

 P. mirabilis ; of these different changes in plumage his clerk, since 

 dead, made a number of coloured sketches, which Mr. Abrahams has 

 shown me ; these, I think, clearly prove his statement, that the variety 

 or race is indicated at the first moult. 



Altogether, about half a dozen instances have been recorded of 

 the successful rearing of Gouldiau Finches in Great Britain. The 

 first to breed them was Mr. Reginald Phillipps, and, as I knew him 

 to be a real lover of birds, and a careful observer, I wrote and asked 

 him to send me, for the present work, as full an account as possible 

 of his experiences with these lovely Finches. To this request Mr. 

 Phillipps responded so promptly, that I am now able to add his 

 very valuable record. He wrote, April 28th, 1894, as follows: 



" During the last few years, Gouldian Finches, both Red and 

 Black-faced, have been very freely imported, and everybody seems to 

 be acquainted with them ; nevertheless, there are one or two points 

 in their family life respecting which aviarists are still in a state of 

 vexation and perplexity. And probably it is to this circumstance, as 

 well as to the merits and beauty of the birds themselves, that the 

 interest in them in spite of the lapses of many disheartened ones- 

 has been kept up in such a very marked degree. 



" Some years ago, I had a pretty flock of these birds, Red and 

 Black, but mostly the latter, flying loose in my bird-room, numbering 

 seventeen in all. They gave no trouble ; they had no ailments : 

 and these have always been my experiences of Gould's Finches, so 



