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CHAPTER XLVI. 



THICK-BILLED FINCHES. 



The stronger-billed foreign Finches, viz., the Auiadince, Spcnnestince, &c., vary in size from 

 that of our Chaffinch down to the medium-sized Waxbill, are not so slender of body as 

 the Astrilds, and do not build such artistic nests. As regards song they have not even the 

 small pretentions of the Waxbills. On the other hand they are more robust, and most of 

 them endure better in our English climate, thriving very well on a diet of canary and 

 millet seed. 



According to the list of the Zoological Society, the Hooded Finch {Sperinestes aiciillata), 

 familiarly known as the Bronze Mannikin, would come next ; then the larger Mannikin, or 

 Pied Grass Finch ; and a few pages further on the Black or Two-coloured Mannikin, or Cape 

 Palmas Finch ; and again later on, with several birds intervening, the Striated Finch, and the 

 Sharp-tailed Finch, all birds known to amateurs as Mannikins, or Manakens, and all nearly 

 related to each other. For the purpose of this book it will be most convenient to class all 

 those birds which are popularly known as Mannikins together. They are stout little birds, 

 either black and white, or dark brown and white, prettily marked, and easily kept. From 

 one of this family of birds, viz., from the Sharp-tailed Finch, the well-known White Japanese 

 Mannikins are the descendants. But we will begin with the largest species of the group. 



PIED GRASS FINCH {Spermestes fringilloides), AVest Africa. (Illustrated.) 



Spermestes fringillina (Russ), Ploceus fringilloides, Amadina fringilloides, Munia fringilloides, Ammiresthes fringilloides. 



English dealers' name — Magpie Mannikin. German — "Grosste Elster Amandine." 



On reference to the drawing of this bird * the reader will see at a glance that it is about 

 equal in size to" our European Goldfinch. The head and shoulders are black, with a greenish 

 metallic lustre. The wings are dull black, and the back is brownish-black, while the chest and 

 lower body is white, with a tinge of yellow towards the abdomen, and a light brown patch 

 on the side. Male and female are alike. 



Whilst the first Pied Grass Finches reached the Zoological Gardens as late as 1871, Dr. 

 Russ obtained one specimen from a German bird-dealer in 1868, and since then they are not 

 always — but sufficiently often — obtainable to place them within reach of every collector or 

 amateur. In an aviary-cage, in company with the very smallest and most delicate Astrilds, 

 the Pied Grass Finch may be a little rough, but he will live and thrive in a very moderate 

 temperature, and be merry in winter whilst living on canary and millet seed in a temperature 

 which would be destructive to African Astrilds. The bird is very easily bred when once 

 an actual pair has been obtained, and after these have been induced fairly to begin to nest. 

 The nest is built either in a box or in a bush, as may be most to the individual taste of 

 the old birds, and the young are readily brought up on egg-food and scalded seeds. In 



* "Red Glass Finch" on Plate should read "Pied Grass Finch." 



