CHAPTER X. 



3 at>a 



I HIS bird, I believe, is of Japanese creation, and, in 

 the opinion of many connoisseurs, an improvement 

 on the original as turned out from the great Laboratory 

 of Nature. Everyone to their taste, however: it is not 

 for me to initiate a controversy on the point, here or 

 elsewhere : this is a free country, or is supposed to 

 be one, and each aviarist must form his or her own 

 conclusion in the matter. 



The White Bird, however, is a distinct variety and 

 not a mere albino, for, as a rule, it breeds true to 

 colour, which the latter does not. Occasionally, never- 

 theless, some parti-coloured individuals will make their 

 appearance in the nest of white parents, but are more 

 curious looking than pretty, and indicate a recent cross. 



When in good condition, the White Java Sparrow is a 

 beautiful creature, for^the gloss that adorns the plumage 

 of the ordinary Blue is very apparent in the White 

 variety, while the pinky-red bill sets off the snowy tint 



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