THE FINCHES. 85 



The young, when first fledged, are absolutely unlike 

 their parents, having plain drab plumage and black bills. 

 The bills soon become pink, but the full plumage, 

 especially the black-and-white head, takes some time to 

 develop, and birds in a state of transition may often 

 be seen in the bird-dealers' cages ; though I have never 

 seen a quite young one in such collections. 



Although Java Sparrows look particularly uniform in 

 appearance, they have produced a well-marked variety, 

 which is cultivated in a tame state in China and Japan 

 as Canaries are with us. This is the White Java Sparrow, 

 also a common inmate of the bird-dealers' cages ; it is, 

 however, much dearer than the wild grey birds. It is a 

 beautiful creature in its way, looking as if moulded from 

 snow, and retaining the pink beak of the naturally 

 coloured bird. A good many specimens show some of the 

 natural grey colour, chiefly on the back, and such 

 should not, of course, be bought ; but it is generally easy 

 to get quite pure white ones. It is not so very difficult 

 to tell the sexes apart in the white tame Javas, as the 

 difference in the bills seems to be more marked than in 

 the wild birds. Of course these white birds will breed 

 readily in captivity ; so will the wild grey ones, if they 

 have enough room ; and both may be kept together 

 without much fear of inter-mixture if they have mates 

 of their own colour. For nesting they need cocoanut 

 husks or small boxes with holes in them, and a supply 

 of hay, coir, &c. When they have young, some soft food, 

 such as egg and biscuit or satoo, should be provided, 

 and it is as well to get them used to this beforehand. 



