254 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



The love-dance of the Java Sparrow is very ludicrous ; he bends 

 his body like an arch over the perch, turns his head sideways towards 

 the female, and lifts himself jerkily up and down, singing all the 

 while, and gradually sidling up to his mate. 



Illustration from living specimens in the author's collection. 



THE MAGPIE MANNIKIN. 



Amaureslhes fringilloides, L/AFR. 



THE so-called "Pied Grass-finch" inhabits Africa, with the exception 

 of the north-east, south-west and south of the continent. This 

 is. of course, a true Mannikin and is more correctly named by the. 

 French (La plus grande Nonnette and None grandej than by the English :* 

 for, though the whole of the Prachtfinken or Ornamental Finches may 

 be correctly designated " Grass-finches " ; the more typical forms of 

 the latter group, from an aviarist's point of view, are represented by 

 such genera as Erythrura, Poephila, Steganop/eura, Taniopygia, Amadma, 

 Stictoptera, and perhaps Aidemosyne ; though the latter is without doubt 

 very close to the true Maunikins, with which, indeed, it interbreeds. 



The upper surface of this bird is deep chocolate-brown, the front 

 of the back, scapulars and median wing coverts with white shaft- 

 streaks ; the head, including the sides of the neck and throat, the 

 croup, tail-coverts and tail-feathers black, glossed with steel-green ; 

 outer tail-feathers with white fringe to the inner web ; under surface 

 of body from the throat white, somewhat sordid towards the vent ; a 

 large purplish-black patch on the sides of the breast, sides of body 

 with a clear liver-brown patch streaked externally with black, and 

 edged with white ; thighs partly black ; under wing-coverts and 

 axillaries dull buff. Length 4^ inches. Beak large, and Weaver- 



* The dealers' name of "Magpie Manuikin " is confusing, from the fact that the Bengalee 

 has been called the "Pied Mannikin"; nevertheless I prefer to use it. A.G.B. 



