XIII 

 A FINCH OF ROSEATE HUE 



THE Fringillida, or finches, constitute the 

 most successful family of birds in the world. 

 The crow tribe runs the finches close, but 

 the Corvi are handicapped by their large 

 size. Were the sparrow as big as the crow, man would 

 never have allowed him to become the pest that he 

 is. The impudent pigmy is tolerated because he is so 

 small and insignificant. 



Finches are birds of coarse build, and are character- 

 ised by a vulgar-looking beak, so that they need either 

 fine feathers or a sweet voice to render them acceptable 

 to man. Those finches which, like the common 

 sparrow, lack either of these attributes are accounted 

 mean birds of low estate. But, on the whole, Dame 

 Nature has been kind to the finches in that she has 

 arrayed the cocks of many species in bright colours. 

 The showy goldfinch is a familiar instance of this, 

 as is the canary, but the yellow colour of the latter 

 has been induced largely by artificial selection. The 

 wild canary is not a very beautiful bird. 



Among the finches all shades of red and yellow are 

 to be found. Brown and green are worn by some 



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