372 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



at a very early period the young birds resemble the old ones so much that they cannot 

 be distinguished. In Dr. Russ's aviary, some Double-banded Finches occupied the nest for- 

 saken by Weaver-birds, but I am inclined to think this adoption of prepared nests due to 

 abnormal stimulus. Healthy Double-banded Finches have evidently the desire and the instinct 

 to build a nest of their own, similar to the Weaver-birds. Undoubtedly the Double-banded 

 Finch is one of the prettiest, one of the most interesting, and one of the best-tempered 

 inhabitants of the aviary. 



Mr. Gould, in his celebrated work on the birds of Australia, mentions and illustrates 

 Esirelda Biclienovii, and a very similar bird, Estnida anmtlosa. Whether the latter be really a 

 separate species seems, however, a little doubtful. I have carefully examined all the skins at 

 the British Museum marked Estrelda Bichenovii and Estrelda annulosa, and I have also carefully 

 examined hundreds of live birds, but have failed to observe any difference, except such as is 

 easily accounted for by age and quite in accordance with the variations of plumage of those 

 birds I bred myself. 



AUSTRALIAN VV^AXBILL [Estrelda temporalis), Australia. 



(Illustration painted from live specimen kindly lent by T. C. Marsh, Esq.) 



Fringilla temporalis, Fringilla quintieolor, Amadina temporalis, /Egintha tempo7-alis. Dealers' name— Sydney WaxbilL 



German — " Dorn Astrild." 



This little bird is common enough in Australia, and yet not often met with as a cage-bird. 

 Dealers do not like him much, as he does not fetch a high price, and is apt to die unexpectedly. 

 With me the Australian Waxbill never attempted to build a nest, whilst Dr. Russ managed 

 to see .several broods hatched, but even he did not succeed in bringing them up. 



The Sydney Waxbill is the most sober-coloured of the Australian Finches, the back being 

 olive-green, and the throat, breast, &c., grey. The distinguishing mark of the bird is a broad 

 scarlet line from the coral-red beak through the eye towards the region of the ear, and a few 

 scarlet feathers at the root of the brownish-black tail. The bird is peaceable and amiable, but 

 uninteresting in the aviary, and male and female are alike. 



FIRE-TAILED FINCH (Esirelda bella), Australia. 



(Illustration painted from specimens in the Author's possession. ) 



Spermesfes nitida (Russ), Loxia bella et nitida, Loxia bella, Fringilla bella, Atnadina niiida, ZotuBginthus nitidiis, Zoiuvginthtis belliis. 



German — " Feuerschwanz Amandine." 



The Fire-tailed Finch seems to have been a puzzle to everybody who had to do with him. 

 Ornithologists call him Estrelda, Loxia, Fringilla, Amadina, and Spermesfes in turns, and 

 amateurs do not know what to feed the bird on. He is one of the most beautiful Australian 

 Finches, and yet it is difficult to describe his beauty. The plumage is nearly uniform dark 

 brownish-grey on the back, light underneath, but the whole plumage is marked by wave-like 

 delicately-pencilled cross-lines of black. Just round the root of the beak is a little black, 

 extending in a line towards and fonning a ring round the eye. The eye again has a distinct 

 bare bluish-white ring round it, forming a most peculiar contrast to the black feathers sur- 

 rounding it. At the root of the dark brown tail is a patch of brilliant scarlet feathers. 



A pair was exhibited in the Zoological Garden in 1870, and no earlier account exists 

 of this Finch as a cage-bird. I have had many Fire-tailed Finches since then, but always 

 found them die in the most unexpected and disappointing manner. One single bird out of 

 many lived in my aviary for over a twelvemonth, but he was sent to a show on the Continent 

 as a curiosity, and died there as unexpectedly as many newly-imported specimens had done. 



