4i6 Caa'aries and Cage-Birds. 



course of years I have kept all those named above without discovering anything specially 

 interesting in any one of them. As a rule these Spermophila Finches are only met with in 

 single specimens by chance. Their value is uncertain. If a dealer wanted to dispose of any, 

 a few shillings might buy them ; if any one wanted some kind specially, the offer of several 

 sovereigns might not bring any for sale. But as only a very few collectors would buy these 

 birds at present, and a larger number could scarcely be sold at all, these little Finches are, 

 and are likely to remain rare. 



One of the most frequent and prettiest is the Lined Finch, a bird about the size of a 

 Siskin. The head and back are black, with a greenish gloss. Right down over the forehead 

 is a white stripe, and across each cheek is another white stripe, giving the bird the appearance 

 as if his black forehead were marked with a white cross. On each black wing is a white 

 spot, and underneath the bird is white, but the beak is black. Dr. Russ mentions no less than 

 twenty-seven varieties of Spermophila Finches. 



The food of these little Finches consists of millet and canary seed, and I found them by 

 no means delicate. 



SAFFRON FINCH [SycaHs flaveola), Brazil. (Illustrated.) 

 firin^illa Brasiliensis (Russ), Embcriza Brasiliensis, Passerina Jlava, Linaria Aiirifrons, SycaHs Brasiliensis, Crilhagra Brasiliensis, 

 Sycalis flaveola. English dealers' name — Saffron Finch. German name — " Safraiifink. " French name — " Chardonneret 

 a front d'or." 



The Saffron Finch, sometimes called Brazilian Canary, is a wonderfully hardy bird 

 considering the climate of the land of his birth. I found him thrive on very simple food, and 

 have seen broods of young Saffron Finches leave the nest at Christmas, as well as in spring, 

 summer, and autumn ; in fact, they seemed to breed all the year round in my aviary. As 

 shown in the illustration, the Saffron Finch is of bright yellow colour, with a shade of orange 

 marking the face of the male. The female is similar, but the yellow body-colour is not 

 quite so bright as the males, and the orange tint on the face is very faint. Young Saffron 

 Finches attain their adult plumage only after the second year has been completed ; and 

 very often young birds are mistaken for hen-birds. For this reason a young Saffron Finch 

 about four months old has also been illustrated. The sexes cannot be distinguished until the 

 plumage has fully arrived at maturity. The greenish-brown young Saffron Finches may be 

 males or females ; no one can tell for certain which they are. In size the Saffron Finch equals 

 a Norwich Canary, but as regards song he does not take a high rank ; though not unpleasant, 

 his song is insignificant. 



The love-making of a pair of Saffron Finches is a very peculiar affair, consisting in 

 either the male bird persecuting the hen and punishing her severely if she be not quite ready 

 to receive his advances, or if the male should happen to be of a retiring disposition, the 

 female may be seen pursuing him vigorously. Thus there is sure to be a family quarrel 

 before the beginning of each brood, and these domestic feuds frequently become so inveterate 

 as to upset the equanimity of all the other smaller inhabitants of an aviary. Presently, again, 

 the male Saffron Finch may be seen pouring out his love-song to his mate, with head bent 

 back, wings drooping and trembling, and the tail spread like a fan. Even a large cage is too 

 small for these lively birds to breed in, but in a roomy aviary occupied by Weaver-birds, 

 Java Sparrows, and such-like birds, the Saffron Finches will do well. 



In their wild state the Saffron Finches nestle in holes of walls or of decayed trees, 

 or in the old nests of other birds. In the aviary they seem to prefer a cigar-box (as 



