4IO 



CHAPTER XLViri. 



TRUE FINCHES. 



The next family of birds, that of the Fringillidce, or True Finches, will require and deserve all 

 the space the limit of these pages affords. Amongst these the two first are natives of North 

 America, and they are birds which deserve to be as popular as they are. To me they always 

 seemed to be the American representatives of our Linnet and of our Chaffinch, but their plumage 

 is infinitely more brilliant. 



INDIGO-BIRD {Cyanospiza cyanea). North America. (Illustrated.) 

 FringiUa cyanea (Russ), Tanagra cyanea, Emberiza cyanea, ccerulea el cyanella, Passerina cyanea, Spha cyanea. 

 English dealers' name — Indigo-bird. German name — " Indigofink." French name — " Le Ministre." 



In size and in his winter plumage the Indigo-bird resembles somewhat our Linnet. But 

 about March or April the unpretending brown plumage of the male will change to a deep blue, 

 and this colour the bird will retain until autumn. The female retains her modest brown garb all 

 the year round. Large numbers of Indigo-birds are brought to Europe every summer, and 

 mostly by German Canary dealers, who go out to America with German Canaries and Bullfinches, 

 and bring back Indigo-birds and Nonpareil Finches. This will explain why these American 

 Finches are, as a rule, offered for sale in German canary-cages. But among every hundred males 

 imported there are only a very few females, and it is by no means easy to obtain a hen-bird when 

 such a one happens to be wanted. 



In the cage the Indigo-bird will sing during the summer months, and though his song is not 

 equal to that of a Linnet, yet it is agreeable enough. In the aviary, however, he will live in 

 silence and peace. To introduce a hen-bird is not advfsable, as the chances of breeding the 

 Indigo-bird are very small indeed, and the probability of quarrels arising is increased. 



Although the Indigo-bird is generally fed on seeds only, every bird-keeper will soon find out 

 that this is a mistake, for the bird will neither remain healthy nor endure long on such a diet. A 

 little animal food, in the shape of a few mealworms, flies, or spiders, is indispensable to him, and 

 giving these regularly, the Indigo-bird will soon become so tame that he will take insects from 

 between the fingers. During the summer months the Indigo-bird is plentiful in the northern 

 parts of the United States of America, but in the autumn he migrates southwards towards 

 the Mississippi region. With proper treatment the bird is well able to live all the year round 

 in an English open-air aviary, displaying only a little restlessness at the period of migration. 

 Cross-breeding with Canaries has been attempted, but with very little success. In the very rare 

 cases where young cross-breeds resulted, their colours were disappointing. 



NONPAREIL FINCH {Cyanospiza ciris). North America. (Illustrated.) 



FringiUa ciris (Russ), Etnberiza ciris, Passe/ina ciris, Spiza ciris. English dealers' name — Nonpareil. German name — 



" Papstfink." French name — "Le Pape," or " Nonpareil." 



Surely this Finch is the American cousin of our Chaffinch. The colours and their arrange- 

 ment are very similar, only infinitely more bright in the case of the American Nonpareil. The 



