FINCHES AND NUNS. 



many to involuntarily exclaim to him, " I'd just like to hug you! " His song can 

 be described only by stating that it seems like a laughing-song. Good-natured, 

 affectionate, playful, he is a great additional charm to any collection. The bird is- 

 about two inches and three-quarters long, very sprightly, and quickly becomes well 

 enough acquainted with his keeper to accept seed from the lingers or lips. 



The Black-capped Nun is similar in size and shape to the White Cap ; and the 

 only difference in color is, that, where the latter is white, he is black. He has- 

 many pretty little ways that make him an interesting addition to the collection. 

 He is a native of India, but thrives well in our colder climate. 



The Black-capped Finch,' or Three-colored Nun, differs from the two immedi- 

 ately preceding, only in having a white stripe down the breast. 



The Cut-throat Finch from Africa is one of the most popular of all the Finch 

 tribe. The red stripe across the throat of the male gives the bird his somewhat 

 appalling name. The plumage is a soft fawn color, delicately mottled on the 

 breast with dark-brown spots. The pairs will breed in cages more readily than any 

 other African Finch. A German bird-breeder mentions in his writings, that a 

 " pair began in his aviary by laying nine eggs, which were lost through an accident. 

 The same pair brought out of their nest two young ones Nov. 8, four on April 2, 

 five on May 15, and three on June 20. The same pair bred in the following season 

 in even quicker succession ; and a lady in Vienna had from one pair in three years 

 forty-five broods, altogether over two hundred and forty eggs, from which one 

 hundred and seventy-six were hatched ! The young hen-birds were ready to breed 

 at the early age of two to three months." 



The nestlings should be fed on the soaked millet-seeds, egg-food, and ants* 

 eggs. The pairs usually mate in November, and a temperature of sixty-five to- 

 seventy degrees is warm enough. 



When the male throws the brood out of the nest, and leaves them to perish, it 

 is because he wants to mate again. Either he should be put in a separate cage, or 

 a brood or two of eggs may be destroyed, and thus the pair cooled off. These Cut- 

 throats have the peculiar habit of sitting in rows, and resting their bodies on a 

 single stick, regardless of how many unoccupied perches there may be. Suddenly, 

 as though it had just occurred to him that the assemblage was rather quiet, one 

 will rise up on his feet to his greatest height, and sing and warble with many accom- 

 panying gesticulations of body and head, then as suddenly drop back to his place, 

 and be silent : while another will jump up, and give his song, dancing, and curving- 

 his body into ludicrous shapes ; while his face expresses a vacuity that would, if 

 possible, make a ten-inch post-hole smile an envious smile. 



The Cut-throat is hardy, thrives on the canary and millet seeds, and lives six or 

 eight years. When bred in cages the birds are, of course, tame ; but even those 

 brought wild from Africa soon become attached to him who feeds them, and will 

 eagerly take dainty morsels from the fingers or lips. They may be generally found 

 on sale in the shops. 



The Silver-bill Finch, or Quaker Finch, from Africa, is an unpretending little 

 bird, whose presence you would not be apt to notice in first glancing at an aviary 

 collection ; but a half-hour's acquaintance would so interest you in his song, that 

 afterwards the first notes of the prelude would instantly catch your attention. The 



