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will surely creep into the nest of the parent-birds when these want to sit again, and 

 thus disturb the second sitting. 



The Diamond Sparrow's plumage is very elegant ; but the colors are strong, and 

 the contrasts great. The head and back are silver-gray, and the wings and tail 

 somewhat darker brownish gray ; the breast and lower part of the body are pure 

 white, with a broad, rich black band extending along the sides, and these bands 

 are ornamented witli large, irregular, pure-white spots ; the chest is crossed by a band 

 of velvet-like black. The end of the back, and root of the tail, are a rich carmine 

 red. which gives the bird a very brilliant appearance when flying. The bird is 

 about three inches and a half long. In the aviary the Diamond Sparrow is peace- 

 able and very showy. A pair will sit for hours quietly on a branch or perch, when 

 the male will slowly rise up on his feet, utter a long-drawn, loud call, warble a 

 moment, and then sink back into his former position. The bird is imported from 

 Australia. If breeding is intended, it is advisable to separate the males and the 

 females during the winter, and to keep two or more of each sex in a cage fourteen 

 to eighteen inches long. Their jealousy will cause them to exercise enough, so they 

 will not get too fat. The bird is quite indifferent to temperature, and may be kept 

 almost anywhere : in fact, some breeders maintain that very cold weather improves 

 the plumage. About March the birds may be paired, one pair only in a cage. The 

 nest is a huge bundle of sticks, hay, green stuff, grass, or fibre : the pure-white eggs 

 will be hatched in about twelve days. It has been noticed, that the mother is so 

 jealous of the young brood, that, if the male bird comes near the nest, he will be 

 persecuted so vigorously that the brood may be forgotten, or the male parent killed 

 by the chirping family. A separation of this veritable hen-pecked husband from 

 his family is the only remedy. The best food for the young Diamond Sparrows is 

 live insects. Give, also, soaked ants' eggs, meal-worms, egg-food, and scalded, 

 soaked, and strained white French millet and canary seeds. The Diamond Spar- 

 rows are not at all common, and can only occasionally be found in the shops. 

 Males and females are the same colors. 



The Chestnut Finch, known also as the Nutmeg or Spice-bird, is a curiously 

 marked bird, rich chocolate brown on the back, the lower part of the body being- 

 marked with numerous white crescent-shaped spots, or light brown feathers. By no 

 means delicate, this bird will live a long time in the aviary ; and with the smallest 

 Waxbills he will invariably be on good terms, and share their food and treatment. 

 The Nutmeg-bird is common in India, and on the islands of the Indian Ocean ; but 

 it is very difficult to breed him in a cage. They are kept solely for the sake of their 

 plumage and playful ways : one of their interesting features is the attempts of the 

 mule bird to sing. He will stand almost upright on the perch, the crop will extend 

 as if the bird were about to make a violent effort, the bill will open and shut, but 

 scarcely a sound will be heard. If other birds happen to be singing, the per- 

 formance will appear like a dumb-show. The males and females are marked 

 alike. 



The Chestnut-breasted Finch from Australia is about the size of the Indian 

 Chestnut Finch, and has, like that bird, man} 7 peculiar traits. The colors of the 

 plumage are soft, and form agreeable contrasts of light gray on the head, and 

 cinnamon brown on the back ; the face and throat are dark brown ; and the chest 



