202 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



it differs in its barred upper surface, black upper tail-coverts, and the 

 reddish spots on the cheeks and chin. Length 4,% inches ; the beak is 

 greyish-blue, the upper mandible darker than the lower ; legs pale red ; 

 the claws brown ; iris red-brown. 



The female is rather smaller than the male ; but very similar in 

 colouring. Mr. Abrahams writes that " The male Silver-bill has a 

 broader head, thicker beak, bolder eye, and broader chest than the 

 female, and looks a more robust bird. In trying to distinguish the 

 sexes of a pair of this bird, it is only the first glance that enables you 

 to appreciate the difference above stated, for if you gaze at them for 

 a little time, so much are they alike, that you cannot tell one from 

 the other. Another way of distinguishing the sexes is, to take one 

 bird in each hand, and compare the first long feathers of the wings ; 

 in the male they are almost black, while the hen's are more grey." 



I have, at various times, had a good many examples of this species, 

 and have found them somewhat delicate when first turned loose in the 

 bird-room, the hens more so than the cock birds ; although they usually 

 fall victims through egg-binding. When acclimatized, the cock birds 

 live for many years without a day's illness, making friends with Pied 

 Mannikins, or Sharp-tailed Finches ; but more particularly the fawn 

 and white variety of the former, with which they will readily pair. 

 From this union, however, I never obtained anything beyond eggs. 



If supplied with building materials, this Silver-bill will amuse 

 itself incessantly, whether paired or single, in filling up cigar-boxes or 

 other nesting contrivances, after the manner of Zebra or Parson Finches. 

 In its quick movements and the lateral jerking of its tail, as well as 

 in its clear and shrill song, this species resembles the Waxbills rather 

 than the Mannikins. 



One song consists of a long-drawn trill in one note, followed 

 almost immediately by a second trill in a slightly different note ; it 

 gives one the impression of expiration followed by inspiration through 

 a pea-whistle ; it is chiefly heard when the bird is building.* Another 

 song is somewhat aptly described, by Dr. Russ, as resembling a little 

 running brook ; and, in the case of the examples which I have 

 purchased recently, this is the only song I have heard. 



German travellers tell us, that the African Silver-bill has no 

 decided song, but that it is represented by modest whispered babbling, 

 and sounds resembling kissing, with little melody ; and that the 



* I wrote this description of it after listening to, and watching a male bird in my Ornamental 

 Finch aviarv ; since then I have had other specimens which have sung a little rippling whistled 

 song, somewhat approaching that of the Bengalee, but much clearer. A.G.B. 



