258 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



Ornamental Finches inhabited, and then two of them were also fledged 

 in my bird-room. Later this little Pie was bred several times again, 

 by Messrs. Hendschel the engineer, Count York, of Wartenburg, and 

 others, yet even these only bred successfully with isolated pairs, most 

 of them were neither productive nor dependable, also each pair as a 

 rule only once brings its young to a perfect state of development. 



" The young plumage on the upper surface is deep blue- grey ; 

 blackish on the head and throat ; lower surface brownish grey- white ; 

 beak bluish black, feet black brown. 



" Mrs. Cacilie Lottermoser, of Warnbrunn, first communicated to 

 me the unpleasant experience, that a pair of this little Pie, in a 

 travelling-cage, had during the journey, completely bitten off a foot of 

 a Helena Astrild, and similar events have since been repeated. In 

 the bird-room, however, it shows itself a coward and is by no means 

 so lively as its smaller relative. The male dances and hums, in the 

 same manner, and this is the only distinguishing character between 

 the sexes."* 



Illustration from a skin in the author's collection. 



THE BRONZE MANNIKIN. 



Spermestes cucullata, SWAINS. 



THIS little bird is nearly allied to the preceding, having. the same 

 form, general aspect and disposition : it inhabits Western Africa 

 from Senegambia to the Congo, and its range extends to Equatorial 

 Africa. 



My skins of this species, when compared with that of S. bicolor, 

 show a decidedly smaller bird. The upper surface is mouse-brown, 

 darker and glossed with greenish on the top of the head, the forehead 

 being almost black ; the feathers on the lower back are pale, becoming 



As I never possessed a pair, I carmot disprove this statement, but I strongly suspect that 

 the hen is smaller and has a more slender beak than the male. A.G.B. 



