CAGE BIRDS 197 



guttata), of Australia, is a pretty and attractive species. It 

 is pale gray above, with the tail black and lower back 

 bright red. The underparts are pure white, with a narrow 

 black band across the chest. This band extends backward 

 along the flanks, where it is heavily spotted with white. 

 The bird is imported only occasionally, but is sometimes 

 to be had. It is harmless and hardy. 



The Zebra Finch (TcEniopygia castanotis) is the most 

 common of the Australian finches in captivity. The male 

 is gray above, shading to white on the upper tail coverts, 

 which are barred with black. The tail is of the latter color. 

 There is a large chestnut patch on each ear. The throat and 

 chest are gray, banded with black. The center of the 

 abdomen is white, while the flanks are chestnut with white 

 spots. The female lacks the ear-patches, the bars on the 

 chest and the chestnut flanks. The species is easily bred in 

 cage or aviary, and as it is very docile and easily kept, 

 it is an excellent subject for the experiments of the tyro. 

 The Java Sparrow (Munia orizivora) apparently is a 

 native of Java, Sumatra and Malacca, but has been widely 

 introduced elsewhere. It is a large, powerful bird about 

 the size of the English Sparrow. It is gray in general, with 

 a vinous tinge on the underparts. The tail, head and chin 

 are black, and there is a large, white spot on each cheek. 

 The heavy bill is rose pink. The female is somewhat 

 smaller in body and beak than the male. A white form, 

 said to have been produced by the Japanese, is bred in cap- 

 tivity. The song of the Java Sparrow is rather pleasing, 

 and no bird could be kept in good condition with less 

 ^trouble. It breeds readily in confinement, in either cage 



ir aviary, provided captivity-bred birds are used. It is 

 [best kept with birds of its own size and strength, as it is 



lot trustworthy with smaller species. Oats are a valuable 



iddition to the diet. 



