398 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



generally via Holland, but as the birds mostly died after a few weeks, they acquired a bad 

 reputation, became difficult of sale, and were rarely imported. In the very earliest days of 

 my keeping foreign birds, I purchased a Pin-tail Nonpareil, and it died after a very few weeks. 

 Regretting the loss of the handsome bird, I consulted one of the most celebrated authorities 

 on the subject of foreign birds, and received the unsatisfactory reply that the bird " never 

 lived in confinement." Not satisfied with this negative information, I set myself the task of 

 discovering zvliy this bird should not live, and completely succeeded. It was easy to find 

 out that the Nonpareil Pin-tail lived chiefly on rice in his native Java. Cleaned table-rice 

 the birds do not care for ; but rice with the husk on, the so-called paddy-rice, was accepted by 

 them as their natural food, and on that, with a little canary and millet seed, the Pin-tail Non- 

 pareils, which were supposed never to live long, endured in my aviary for six or seven years 

 in perfect health and unimpaired beauty of plumage. With a little judicious addition of egg- 

 food it should be possible to breed and rear this Finch ; and Dr. Russ had actually a brood 

 hatched, which however was lost, through the death of the parent-bird, whilst the nestlings 

 were still helpless. 



The Pin-tail Nonpareil is best described by reference to the well-known American Non- 

 pareil. The arrangement of brilliant colours is very similar, but the colours are not so 

 intense, though not less beautiful for being somewhat softened. Head and throat of the 

 male bird are light blue, the back is olive-green, the wings dark brown, each wing-feather edged 

 with olive-green. The lower body is bright scarlet, diffused towards the sides and chest, where 

 the scarlet tint becomes light brownish-yellow. The tail-feathers are brown, with scarlet edges, 

 the two middle tail-feathers are much longer than the rest (wherefore the name Pin-tail Non- 

 pareil), and dark scarlet. The female is simply olive-green on the back, dull yellowish-brown 

 underneath, and without the blue head and scarlet abdomen. In size this Finch about equals 

 our Goldfinch, and his form is slender. In the aviary the Pin-tail Nonpareil is perfectly harm- 

 less, and, though actual experience is wanting, I should say the bird would readily winter 

 without harm in a low temperature. Mine never showed any ill-effects from a night in which 

 the thermometer declined to 50°. 



PARROT FINCH [Erythrura psittacea). New Caledonia. 



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



Spcrmsstes fsiliacea (Russ), Fringilla psittacea, Fringilla pulchella, Acalanthe psittacea, Estrelda psittacea. No English dealers' 



name. German name — "Eigenlliche Papagei Amandine." 



The Parrot Finch is a near relation of the preceding Pin-tail Nonpareil Finch, though 

 totally different in colour. The entire body of this bird is of a rich deep green tint, shining 

 in the sun with almost golden lustre ; the face and throat down to the middle of the breast 

 are bright scarlet, and the tail is dark red, with a patch of scarlet at the root. Male and 

 female are alike, and only to be distinguished by the scarlet on the chest beiilg a trifle less 

 extended in the case of the female. This exceedingly handsome Finch ought perhaps not 

 to find a place in this book ; for he can scarcely be called a cage-bird as yet, although without 

 doubt he will soon be less rare, orders having to my knowledge been sent by London dealers 

 to their travelling collectors to bring over this Finch at almost any price. If once imported, 

 he will soon be bred. Whilst writing there are probably only eight live birds of this species 

 in Europe — four in my own aviary, and four others bred by the writer are, if they are still 

 alive, in a collection on the Continent. 



In May, 1877, Mr. Charles Jamrach received and advertised three foreign Finches, which 



