CHAPTER XXX. 



I HIS pretty bird belongs to the same sub-family as 



the last, namely that of the Palaeornithinae t but it 



is considerably smaller and nicer also, at least in the 



estimation of a good many fanciers, with whom I 



range myself. 



The first specimens of the species that I possessed 

 I obtained from Mr. Anton Jamrach, and they were in 

 very poor condition, that is to say had lost their tails, 

 and had very few feathers of any kind on their bodies : 

 they were, however, very lively, and I got them for a 

 ''song", at a time when Blossom-heads were much 

 dearer than they are at present. 



They appeared to be male and female, and I put 

 their cage out in the garden-aviary, where I left them 

 for some time to grow- accustomed to the place before 

 I gave them their full liberty. As soon as I thought 

 they were sufficiently familiar with their new sur- 

 roundings, I opened their door and allowed them to 

 come out, and they both commenced to clamber up the 



