312 Timehri. 



closed fan, with the broad side in front ; it is bright, silken, scarlet, with 

 the outer edges almost black. Its note is a long, indrawn, almost hiss- 

 like, monotone : ts — s. Its song, though it rarely sings in a cage, is a 

 see-saw on two notes and can hardly be called beautiful. But its colour 

 and lively disposition make it a desirable cage-bird. It is never seen in 

 a cage, however, for the people of the colony think a bird " no good 

 unless it can sing, sir." 



It has a pleasing habit of springing up perpendicularly and dropping 

 down again like a bouncing ball ; or of throwing itself upwards towards 

 the bars of the cage, clinging for a moment, and then flinging itself 

 back again. A pair I had would sit for a long while by the side of a 

 small mirror, and seemed very annoyed when a pair of small doves took 

 up that position ; they would go up to them and try to hustle them out 

 of the coveted spot. 



Goryphospingus is not easily tamed though when once kept in a 

 cage will generally return when set at liberty. It is charming when 

 caught in the hand, erecting its flaming crest and uttering cries of 

 protestation. The crest when at rest is simply a streak of bright 

 crimson. 



The hen is a modified replica of the cock and has no crest. 



The fire-finch is not uncommon in town, but being very shy is not 

 often observed. 



The Creole Canary. 

 The creole canary, or canary grass-bird (sycalis arvenis) is very like 

 that variety of the domestic canary which in England we call the "lizard," 

 though much smaller ; and I venture the opinion that it is, indeed, the 

 ancestor of the now world-wide favourite cage-bird. Above, its feathers 

 are olive-brown edged with lighter colour and not unlike those of the 

 English sparrow ; its throat, breast, and vent are a slightly-greenish 

 yellow, as also above and below the eye, merging into a greener tint on 

 the cheeks. The hen is the same but not so bright. It readily becomes 

 tame in a cage (which is another argument in favour of the above 

 theory) and breeds freely. A cock bird I have in my aviary made love 

 to a hen tua-tua and I have no doubt they would have gone to nest had 

 I put them in a cage by themselves. But I dislike hybrids of every kind. 

 Its wooing was delightful. It would fly from side to side of the aviary 

 and remain before its beloved object on suspended wing like a heavy 

 humming bird, and all this time would utter loud notes of self-admira- 

 tion as if to say, "Look at t/iis, look at this! See what 1 'can do ! ; ' 

 Then it would alight and pour forth its song. The song, though lively 

 enough, is stereotyped. It might easily be reproduced in a mechanical 

 toy. It is wanting in variety and its gamut is short. Beginning with 

 a few staccato notes it gradually increases the pace, rising hy semitones ; 

 then it trills, still increasing the pace ; then ends abruptly as if out of 

 breath. But it begins again immediately for it is an incessant singer 

 when it once takes up its song. In a cage with other birds it is inter- 

 fering and inclined to be masterful. It should therefore be kept alone. 



