260 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



Dohrn, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, for 1872 ; 

 but neither Dr. Dohrn's name nor the species (Spermestes cucullataj 

 occurs in either index to that volume. 



According to Dr. Russ, this Bronze Mannikin breeds quite as well 

 in a cage measuring 14-15 inches high, 12-18 long, and 10-12 deep, as 

 when flying at large in the bird-room, in a nest-box or Hartz-cage 

 covered with paper ; forming its nest of hay, bast, cotton threads, soft 

 rags, etc., heaped together carelessly, and lined with hair and cotton, 

 but never with feathers. Both sexes work at it so zealously that the 

 nest is ready in a single day. " They incubate, not by turn, but 

 together, always simultaneously, and are not easily disturbed ; so that 

 one may confidently examine the eggs or young. The time of incubation 

 lasts twelve days; the young desert the nest between the i6th to the 

 1 8th day, and the course of the brood from the first egg to the flight 

 occupies nearly five weeks." Dr. Russ then remarks that after leaving 

 the nest, the young behave just like Zebra Finches, and he adds : 

 " Dr. Rey gives a very interesting description of the feeding : ' Six 

 youngsters sat in a row, and as soon as the first pleader was pacified, 

 the old bird hopped xipon its back, in order thereby to provide for the 

 second. Thus she moved along, until the whole row was satisfied.' 

 As a rule they nest three to four times in succession, and every clutch 

 consists of from four to seven eggs ; nevertheless, one must separate 

 the young when fledged, because they disturb the old ones when nesting. 

 The breeding season begins in September and lasts up to January ; in 

 the spring also some broods commonly ensue." 



" The young plumage is of an almost uniform chocolate brown, 

 above darker ; below clearer yellowish brown ; wings below clear 

 brownish yellow, tail black-brown ; beak black. The change of colour, 

 if the little birds are well nourished, takes place gradually from the 

 fourth week and is completed in about three months. But occasionally 

 it is very gradual, so that the young birds, imported by the dealers 

 from Africa, may often be abundantly seen in young plumage and 

 more or less mottled, in all possible gradations. 



"In the store-cage the little Magpie is quarrelsome and tyrannical 

 towards all others ; in the bird-room it pluckily chases even considerably 

 larger birds, as for instance, the Rice Amadina (Java Sparrow) from 

 the food-place, and even from its nest. Those who delight in Orna- 

 mental Finches especially esteem its liveliness, hardiness and comical 

 behaviour. In its love-sport, the male croaks its rattling song with 

 wide open beak, and meanwhile hops up and down in regular time, 

 with seemingly pompous gestures, he, however, remains sitting in the 



