Cut-Throat Finch. 389 



the lower part is pure white, in strong contrast to the black head and rich brown back ; 



otherwise the bird is exactly like Miinia Sinensis — viz., rich bright chestnut-brown, with black 

 head, neck, and shoulders. Habits and food exactly like the preceding. 



CUr-THROAT FINCH (Amadina fasciata, Russ), West Africa. (Illustrated.) 

 Loxia fasciata, Loxia jugularis, Friiigilla detruncata, Amadina detruncata, Sporothlastes detnincatus, Sporothlasfes fasciafns. 

 English dealers' name — Cut-throat or Fasciated Finch. German name — "Bandamandine," "Bandfink." French name — 

 " Cou Coupe," "Gorge Coupe." 



There exists no African Finch so generally and so well known as the Cut-throat Finch, 

 so called because the male has a red band extending from ear to ear across the throat. 

 The female is easily recognised by the red band being absent, and there can never be 

 any mistake about the sexes, because male fledglings leave the nest with the distinguishing 

 red mark already perceptible. The illustration makes a description of the plumage super- 

 fluous. When in perfect health and condition the soft fawn-colour and delicate markings 

 of the plumage are remarkably pretty, and any amateur may be recommended to acquire a 

 pair of these inexpensive birds. To see their plumage in perfection is a pleasure worth some 

 trouble, and besides, no other African Finch is so ready to breed in captivity. In my aviary 

 I have bred Cut-throat Finches without knowing what was going on, until I saw the young 

 birds after they had left the nest. Breeding this Finch has, however, this disadvantage — 

 that imported birds are so cheap that cage-bred Cut-throat Finches have scarcely any 

 money value ; but for breeding simply as a pastime, for pleasure, or a beginning amateur's 

 practice, the Cut-throat is to be highly recommended. 



Dr. Russ mentions in his newest work that a pair began in his aviary by laying 9 eggs, 

 which were lost through an accident. The same pair brought out of their nest 2 young on 

 November 8th, 4 on December 25th, 3 on February 13th following, 4 on April 2nd, 5 on May 

 15th, and 3 on June 20th. The same pair bred in the following season in even quicker succession ; 

 and a lady in Vienna had from one pair in three years 45 broods, altogether over 240 eggs, out of 

 which 176 were hatched ! The young hen-birds were ready to breed at the early age of two 

 to three months. 



But Dr. Russ warns his friends against breeding the Cut-throat Finch in an aviary where other 

 small Finches are breeding. He gives the bird a bad character, because he found him cowardly, 

 a bully towards weak and small birds, and faint-hearted when a plucky little opponent showed 

 courage. In their eagerness to breed rapidly in succession, the Cut-throat Finches are apt 

 to take possession of other bird's nests whilst their own nest is yet fully occupied 'oy a young 

 brood. A separate cage is therefore to be recommended. I must say that I found the Cut- 

 throat Finch peaceable and harmless, but I may have been fortunate with my individual 

 birds, or I may not have noticed the disturbance they caused to other birds which might 

 otherwise have bred successfully. 



The nest is built in a nest-box, a German canary-cage, or abandoned nest of other 

 birds and consists of any kind of fibre, grass, hay, or feathers which the birds can pick up. 

 The male bird builds the nest, the female only interesting herself in the arrangement of 

 the inner part of the rough structure in which the Cut-throat rears his family. The young 

 are easily reared on soaked seeds, egg-food, and ants' eggs, and a temperature of about 

 60° to 70° Fahr. is sufficient to breed in midwinter. It often happens that the male 

 bird throws the newly-hatched young brood out of the nest, in which case the brood, 

 of course, perishes. This is due to an unnatural desire of the male bird to breed again. 

 There are two ways of checking this evil — namely, either to separate the male bird, and 



