2050 The Zoologist— March, 1870. 



of shot. I do not think a trne-coloured bird would acknowledge an 

 albino as belonging to its species, and when normal-coloured birds 

 are plentiful it would not take so strange a mate. It is well known 

 what animosity is shown to a white bird by others of the same 

 species. I am very certain that in civilized England a male and 

 female albino of the same species will never be allowed to pair, 

 if they should even chance to outlive the fusilade of an autumn, 

 winter and spring. Even without man's destructive opposition it 

 would be strange if two albinos of the same species met in the same 

 locality — they must also be of opposite sexes; stranger if nothing 

 befel their nest and their exceedingly delicate progeny. Would the 

 progeny of necessity be albinos ? I hope these remarks may explain 

 why albinos are not more common. The white-heads we read of so 

 often in these pages are, perhaps ninety-nine to the one hundred, not 

 albinos. Those who fancy albinoism relates to the ern)ine, the 

 ptarmigan, &c., — which change to white in winter, and change colour 

 again, without moult, in spring, — are quite astray; likewise those 

 who think a white fonl or a white rabbit an albino. Albinos have 

 no colour anywhere stronger thau pink or flesh-colour, even in the 

 eyes. Instances of albinoism occur in the human animal, and are 

 common amongst many of the lower orders of creation. Those who 

 discredit the permanence of this defect should of course expect an 

 albino woman or rat to turn any day into the common appearance as 

 easily as in a bird. I need not say that this docs not occur. Albinos 

 of the goldfinch are very rare. 



II. Parli-coloured, Pied, or Birds with While Feathers, abnormal 

 but not unnatural. 



1. Promiscuously variegated. Not uncommon. 



2. White, systematically arranged. Uncommon. 



3. Devoid of red upon throat, white instead. Not rare. Called 

 "cheverels:" these breed "cheverels." 



4. White-headed. 



These four varieties are often quite permanent and healthy. 



5. Has a permanent spot of white, as large often as a pea, in the 

 black at the occiput; it is peculiar. I have one of these birds caged, 

 but the spot is not nearly so large as in some I have seen : it is 

 permanent: he is evidently very old, has copper-colour, not crimson, 

 on the head, and very white cheeks. 



