2052 The Zoologist — March, J 870. 



V, Crimson ahnormiUes. 



1. Black of head intermingled with crimson feathers. Common. 



2. Black of head all crimson. Rare and beautiful. 



3. Cheeks carmine, flesh-colour, yellow, copper or crimson, instead 

 of white or tawny. 



4. A moon-like spot of carmine at each extremity of the white line 

 across occiput. These birds are called "moons." 



5. When the moons meet, filling up all the white occipital line. 

 Very scarce. Beautiful indeed is this aurora-like effect. They are 

 called in Dublin " Duncans." 



I got a " moon" last autumn ; but this pretty effect seems transitory : 

 it has already faded from rose-colour to copper-yellow. It remains to 

 be seen whether it will remoult again. Fanciers tell me that both 

 *' moons" and " Duncans" are permanent. I have mentioned cases of 

 loss of crimson under other headings. 



YI. Mealy Goliljiuches. — Mealy birds hare the appearance of being 

 sprinkled with dust or meal : it is caused by a fringe of drab (o each 

 feather, even to the black and crimson of the head. The effect is 

 curious. " Such birds breed cheverels." T saw a marked instance of 

 this fringing last December: I questioned some fanciers on the 

 subject, suggesting that they might be first-winter birds, but they say 

 it is permanent. 



YIl. relloiv. 



1. When the crimson of head is gold and even cream-colour: this 

 is generally caused by season or ailment. Common. 



2. When the breast becomes resplendent yellow. Rare. I have 

 one living: it was sent to me for its weight in gold, which I did not 

 give, however. Anything to equal the beauty of this bird 1 never 

 saw : crimson of crimson was the head, and very extended ; black of 

 the deepest the dark parts ; exquisite cinnamon-colour the back ; suow- 

 Avhite the cheeks, throat and under parts ; the breast of a glinting 

 brass-yellow ; it also had the rose-coloured stripe at the back of the 

 licad. 1 could not kill the beautiful creature, nor would I let him go ; 

 so I caged him. I am sorry now I did not add him to my collection, 

 for he seems unlameable, and quickly losing all the resplendent tints, 

 and as these bright colours dissipate in confinement I expect him next 

 moult to turn out a common-looking bird. 



H. B.-Knox. 



