54 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



Although her breast is of a paler colour than the 

 same part in the male she is a hundred times hand- 

 somer than he is, and all owing to the absence of that 

 detective patch. 



The young resemble their mother in this respect, 

 but the little cocks soon follow in their father's foot- 

 steps, and each of them gets to look as confirmed a 

 rake as the old fellow does in a wonderfully short time 

 after they have emerged from beneath the shelter ot 

 the maternal wing. 



The song of the Crimson- eared Waxbill is sweet and 

 low, and the way the male dances and sings to the 

 female is extremely pretty and amusing, too. She also 

 sings a little when caged by herself, but I have never 

 noticed her doing so when a male was present. 



The food is the same as that of all the Waxbills, 

 namely white millet as the staple diet, and a little 

 millet in the ear and Canary-seed for a change now 

 and then. They will also eat ants' eggs, especially if 

 fresh, and should be provided with some when they 

 have little ones to feed. The best green food is Canary- 

 grass sown in shallow pans and allowed to grow to 

 the height of two or three inches. 



The scientific name is Estrclda phcenicotis. 



