8 4 2 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



My friend Mr. E. W. Harper secured a specimen of 

 this fine bird lately, which passed into the possession 

 of a well-known naturalist at home. This was pro- 

 cured in Tiretta Bazar at Calcutta, and some time later a 

 dozen birds of the species turned up there, and were 

 bought for training by a Parsee resident of that city, 

 who took them to England for exhibition. The two 

 birds, on which I was able to re-establish the species 

 which Mr. Hume had first named from two skins, were 

 obtained from the late Mr. Rutledge at Entally, so that 

 in Calcutta one has the best chance of coming across 

 one of the rarest and least known of Indian birds, only 

 the few specimens I have alluded to being known to exist. 



A very handsome foreign Weaver is often to be found 

 for sale in the Bombay market, and now and then in 

 Calcutta. This is : 



THE MADAGASCAR WEAVER (Foudia madagascariensis)* 

 called the Mauritius Baya by Calcutta dealers ; and the 

 Scarlet Bishop by English ones at home. It is a well- 

 known cage-bird, and has been turned loose in several 

 places and allowed to go wild, as in Mauritius ; its 

 natural home being of course Madagascar. 



It is a little smaller and weaker in bill than the true 

 Baya of India, but otherwise much resembles it in the 

 sparrow-like winter plumage, which is, however, darker. 

 The hens, of course, always retain this dress, but the 

 cock in spring becomes of a splendid scarlet almost all 

 over, but the wings and tail are of a streaky brown, and 

 there is a black stripe along each side of the face. 

 This brilliant little bird makes a fine addition to an 



