BICHENO'S FINCH. 195 



consider Embkma, and Zonaginthus aberrant Waxbills, though it 

 is more probable that they will prove to be aberrant Grass-finches, 

 and I should call the present species, with the species of Aidemosyne, 

 aberrant Grass-finches. Unfortunately, nature has fixed no sharp 

 dividing lines between her productions, in order to assist the syste- 

 matist ; she has behaved like the missionary, who has taken out an 

 inadequate supply of clothing for his savage converts, distributed her 

 favours as equally as possible ; nevertheless, as from a dozen complete 

 and similar suits, hardly two men of a tribe will be similarly equipped, 

 though many will have characters in common ; so it is with the 

 children of nature. 



Dr. Russ thus writes of the Bicheno's Finch : " At the Paris 

 World's Exhibition of 1867, I saw Ringed Astrilds for the first time, 

 which it was asserted had been bred there ; price 100 francs. Ringed 

 Astrilds first reached the Zoological Gardens, of London, in 1861, and 

 since then several pairs have arrived yearly ; particularly in London 

 and Hamburg ; at times it may be found in all the more important 

 bird-rooms." 



In the bird-room particularly beautiful, graceful, lively and con- 

 fiding, it also nests readily and with good results, if not allowed to be 

 disturbed. It is one of the birds whose manner of breeding and 

 development had to be discovered by breeding ; the wild life is 

 unknown.* Nest usually built high up near the ceiling, and by 

 choice in that of others, Weaver-birds or Ornamental Finches ; lined 

 round with blades of grass, cotton-wool and feathers. A pair in my 

 bird-room, however, wove a purse-shaped nest with long entrance tube, 

 principally of agave fibre ; a pair belonging to Mr. Von Beust built 

 low down, but in a dense prickly bush. 



Laying four to seven eggs ; development of the brood in other 

 respects resembling that of other Ornamental Finches. Nestling doum 

 pure white. Young plumage above dirty mouse- grey, below whitish- 

 grey ; the markings already faintly indicated. Increase of colour begins 

 early, by the stronger development of the ringed-stripes and lattice 

 spots, it is, however, slowly modified ; the clear black upper and under 

 tail-coverts, and pure white croup are first visible in the second year. 

 Sociable, enduring, and one of the most loveable inhabitants of the 

 bird-room. Immediately after their arrival, the older Ringed Astrilds 

 particularly, are for the most part exceedingly tempestuous ; must be 

 carefully looked after. Song, according to Mr. A. Bargheer, something 



* Since the publication of Mr. North's work on Australian Birds, this has ceased to be the 

 case. A.G.B. 



