256 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



then at once satisfied by the marked difference in the form of their 

 beaks, the tinting of the abdomen, and a recognizable disparity in size, 

 that I had a genuine pair. I now restored the birds to their cage, and 

 soon afterwards they became friendly, and even carried a little hay into 

 a box. Up to the end of April, 1898, no further attempt at nesting 

 has been made. 



The note of the bird is ridiculous, considering its size, for it 

 merely consists of an oft-repeated plaintive little whistle, not unlike 

 the call-note of a Zosterops. 



THE TWO-COLOURED MANNIKIN. 



Spermestes bicolor, FRASER. 



THIS little Mannikin inhabits West Africa, from Sierra Leone to 

 Dahomey. According to Dr. Russ it is only occasionally imported, 

 a few pairs at a time. 



The whole upper surface of this bird is black, glossed with green, 

 excepting on the flights and tail-feathers ; the chin, throat, chest, and 

 sides are also black, glossed with green, the edges of the black at the 

 sides being irregular, having a barred character ; the remainder of the 

 under surface of the body is white, the flights and tail-feathers below 

 greyish-black. Length 3 J inches. Beak leaden-grey ; legs dark leaden- 

 grey ; iris black. 



I only once possessed this species for a single night ; it was caught 

 by a policeman in South Kensington. The poor little mite had probably 

 escaped from some cage or aviary in the neighbourhood, and was being 

 mobbed by Sparrows : as it was probably faint for want of food, it was 

 easily captured, and brought to me; and, within five minutes, it was 

 greedily devouring millet and canary-seed. 



I took the bird home, and turned it into a flight-cage with Wax- 

 bills ; it seemed to be quite happy and contented, when I left it for 

 the night ; but in the morning I found it dead. The skin was preserved 



