African Wax bills. 379 



successful breeder at Baden-Baden, who owned a hen-bird, to make the experiment of 

 breeding. This bird was sent from London to Germany in February, and endured the 

 journey without the least ill-effects, which certainly speaks well for the stamina of this Finch 

 when once acclimatised and in perfectly healthy condition. 



The Grenate Finch is of soft rich brown colour, a narrow rim round the beak and the 

 root of the tail is bright blue of peculiar richness, a large patch on the cheeks is violet 

 colour, and the beak is coral-red. The female is reddish-brown, somewhat lighter on the 

 lower part of the body, and the violet on the cheeks is less brilliant. A peculiarly sweet song 

 distinguishes this remarkably beautiful little bird, and I am informed that the female in my 

 friend's possession sings nearly as well as the male. 



The food I gave consisted of canary-seed, French millet and millet in the ear, flowering 

 grass, and two or three mealworms per day. The movements and manners of the Violet- 

 eared Finch are very similar to those of the Red-eared Finch. 



CINEREOUS WAXBILL {Estrelda ccerulescens), West Africa. 

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

 ^gmtha caudescen; (Russ), Fringilla ccerulescens, Lagonostica ccerulescens, Habropyga ccerulescens et fimbricata, Pytelia ccerulescens, 

 Estrelda incana, Habropyga Natalensis, Pytelia incana, Fringilla Perreini, Estrelda melanogastra, Hahropyga Perreini, 

 Estrelda Perreini, Pytelia Perreini. Dealers' name — Lavender Finch. French — " Gris Bleu." German — " Rothsihwauzigei 

 Astrild," "Blaugranes Rothsihwauzchen. " 



A beautiful small Finch is the Cinereous Waxbill, of a delicate soft lavender or pale slate- 

 colour all over the body. The lower part of the back and the tail are purple, and the beak 

 is crimson. A line of black runs from the beak beyond the eye. When in perfect health there 

 is a bloom on this bird's plumage which reminds us of the delicate bloom on very ripe fruit. 

 Male and female are alike. 



The first Cinereous VVaxbills reached the Zoological Gardens in 1868, and the birds 

 are latterly often obtainable from dealers, but not nearly so often or in such numbers as 

 many other African WaxbiUs. They mostly arrive with their feathers in sad disorder, and 

 are then exceedingly delicate. But with great care they recover, and then endure for years, 

 ■though many die soon after their arrival. They require the same treatment as the Amaduvade 

 Finch, and are neither more nor less delicate than that bird. 



Dr. Russ and several amateurs in Germany have succeeded in breeding the Cinereous 

 •Waxbill, but, all in all, the failures were numerous and the successes extremely rare. This 

 Waxbill is perfectly peaceful in the aviary, and Dr. Russ found that even at breeding-time 

 he did not quarrel with other birds, though two males would then fight gallantly. 



ZEBRA WAXBILL {Estrelda suhflava), Africa. 

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

 ALgintha sanguinolenta (Russ), Fringilla sanguinolenta, Estrelda sanguinolenia, Fringilla subflava, Amadina sanguinolenta, 

 SporcEginthus subflavus, Sporceginthus miniatus, Habropyga subflava, Pytelia subflava. Dealers' name — African Zebra 

 Waxbill. French — " Senegali k ventre Orange." German — " Goldbriistiger Astrild," " Goldbriistchen. " 



The Zebra Waxbill is one of the smallest of the African Finches, and frequently 

 found at dealers', or in ornamental aviaries. His plumage is dark greenish-brown on the 

 back ; the throat, chest, and lower body are pale yellow, with a diffused patch of bright 

 orange about the middle of the lower body, shaded towards the sides and throat. The 

 beak is coral-red, and a red line extends from the beak through the eye towards the ear. The 

 female is without the orange on the lower body. 



