TIIK MANNIKINS. 211 



notice of everyone ; and if information is asked for, almost any wide- 

 awake person can give it. 



However, " in the multitude of counsellors there is safety " ; 

 therefore, with all these witnesses to the fact, the aviculturist may be 

 certain that he can pair up this species for breeding at any time in 

 the year, withoiit doing violence to its natural instincts. He may also 

 be sure that several pairs, associated in the same aviary, will not hinder 

 the breeding arrangements of each other. Finally, he may be quite 

 satisfied that a bundle of hay and a few feathers, or even lint, will 

 suffice for nesting materials. 



Dr. Russ says : " In its manner of life and in its entire behaviour, 

 as well as in its song, this bird resembles its African relative, and, 

 moreover, the slightly harsher and shorter humming* of the Indian 

 species can scarcely be distinguished, unless one sees it. The call-note 

 sounds tolerably loud cheet died. Even the development of the brood 

 is identical. The Young plumage is of an almost uniformly very dark 

 brownish -grey, below scarcely perceptibly clearer ; beak shining black. 

 These two Amadinas are so nearly related, that in the bird-room they 

 always live and nest together. Dr. Bolle had mules bred from them, 

 and in my bird-room similar hybrids also left the nest, notwithstanding 

 the fact that both sexes of this and the other species were present." 

 He further observes that in spite of its abundance in India, it is very 

 little imported. 



Illustration from a living specimen in the author's collection. t 



THE MANNIKINS. 



AS previously mentioned, these birds can only be arbitrarily separated 

 from the typical Grass-finches, with which they are connected by 

 Aidemosyne, Stidoptera and Amadina ; indeed, as I have already pointed 

 out, Aidemosyne is a Mannikin in everything but its form and its 



* I cannot understand what he means by this, for I never heard my African birds humming : 

 the song being a clear trill. A.G.B. 



t It died of cramp, while bathing, in December, 1895. A.G.B. 



