37^ Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



AFRICAN FIRE FINCH (Estrdda minima), Africa. 

 (Illustration painted from live specimens kindly lent by Mr. E. Hawkins.) 

 jE«inlha minima (Russ), Fringilla minima, Estrelda Senegala, Lagonoslica minima, L. Senegala, L. ignata, ScnCfialiis ruber. 

 Dealers' name — Fire Finch. French — "Amaranthe." German — " Kleiner rother Amaranth," or "Karminfink." 



What has been stated above about the dehcacy of the Crimson-eared Waxbill applies 

 as much, and perhaps even more, to tlie African Fire Finch. I should say that of all those 

 Fire Finches which remain in England, not one in a thousand survives the first winter after 

 their importation. The Zoological Society of London has never placed the bird in the collec- 

 tion at the Gardens, and very wisely, for he should be kept in a semi-tropical atmosphere, 

 very uncomfortable to visitors. Being one of the very smallest of the African Finches, it may 

 well be that his very small body cannot contain sufficient vital energy to bear much hardship 

 or loss of heat. And yet, if the bird has once recovered from the fatigue and vicissitudes 

 of the voyage, and has been fairly acclimatised, he will endure cage-life for years under 

 favourable conditions. 



His native country is Central Africa, and there he is as much the friend and companion 

 of mankind as our Sparrow is in England. His nest is found in the thatch of roofs, in all 

 sorts of holes, and sometimes in trees and bushes. In captivity he soon makes himself at 

 home, and becomes quite fearless. 



The male Fire Finch is of dark red plumage, except the back and tail, which are dark 

 greenish-brown. On the sides there are a few minute white spots, which, however, are 

 frequently absent in young birds. The beak is coral-red, and around the eye is a narrow 

 straw-coloured ring. The female is dark brown, with a little red at the root of the tail, and 

 the same minute white spot at the sides. 



This bird has been bred times innunaerable, and will readily build a nest, either in a 

 nest-box, a bush, or any other suitable place, provided he feels at home and the climate of 

 his abode reminds him of Central Africa. In a cage with other small birds, the Fire Finch is 

 very peaceable, and probably the most confiding and most self-relying of all its inhabitants. 

 He will find his way through the open door of a bird-room before any other bird, and find 

 his way back again, which few other birds do. Food like that of all the other Dwarf 

 Finches. 



VIOLET-EARED FINCH {^Estrelda granatina), Africa. 



Fringilla granatina, Urcsginthus granatinus, Mariposa granatina. Dealers' names — Grenate Finch, Brazilian Finch, and 



Three-coloured Mannikin. German — " Granatrother Astrild," "Granatfink." 



Why this most beautiful of all the African Estreldtz is not in the collection of the 

 Zoological Society is difficult to explain. And perhaps more inexplicable is the rarity of 

 this bird in the market, considering that he has been kept alive in Paris more than a hundred 

 years ago, has been described by most authors of works on the birds of Africa, and can be 

 bought sometimes, though rarely. In old handbooks on cage-birds this native of Africa is 

 called Brazilian Finch. 



Dr. Russ had several live specimens; and I once purchased three heads, under the curious 

 name of Three-coloured Mannikin, at a bird-dealer's in Liverpool. These were, unfortunately, 

 sickly, like so many African dwarf Finches, and soon died. Subsequently I had one male, 

 which I received in fine condition and perfect health. This bird lived in my aviary for 

 nearly two years in a very moderate temperature, and sang merrily and sweetly last winter, 

 with the thermometer at 50° to 55'^ Fahr. I parted with him to enable a friend and very 



