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bird, much like a hen Combasou. As to the question of insect

food, my experience is that the Spermophihz when first imported,

and the Jacarinis always, are very eager after it.


A pair of Cuba Finches, though in fine condition and

eager to nest, have unfortunately fixed their affedtions on a tree

sacred to the Aurora Finches and their young, and consequently

have never got on far with their own arrangements.


Of True Finches I have two pairs of Trumpeter Desert

Finches, some Black-headed Siskin cocks (I have never seen a

hen), and a Mexican Siskin ( Chrysomitris inexicanus ) a delightful

little bird in everj^ way, whose rather thin but not unpleasant

little song is to be heard all day. There are also a hen Scarlet-

rose Finch ( Carpodacus erythrinus), an Alario, and various African

Sparrows. Of these the most interesting and the prettiest are two

Golden Sparrows {Passer luteus') whose one drawback is that they

will take their dust baths in a seed trough. Swainson’s Sparrow

is a somewhat larger bird, prettily coloured, but so terribly shy

that one gets suspicious of his amiability. It is generally these

apparently nervous birds who commit murderous assaults in

dark corners. He is the only Sparrow I have that refuses insedt

food.


With the exception of Serinus flaviventris, I have, I believe,

all the Serins commonly imported, from the Serin Finch and the

Wild Canary (which ftying in the bird-room is indistinguishable

from the Cape Canary) to the Sulphureous Seed-eater. None of

these birds fight, save the cocks of the Grey Singing Finch pairs

with whom baldness seems to be a necessary preliminar)^ to

breeding—and they have bred several times with me. On the

other hand, the reputedly timid Pileated Finch (especially the

hen) I have found distinctly aggressive, while the Sycalis tribe

always behave themselves admirably. Saffron Finches seem to

frighten rather than hurt the smaller birds. My pair I have had

for years, and they have done no damage at all. There are also

Sycalis arvensis , and a hen of Sycalis -pelzelni, a bird which

puzzled me extreme^ until Mr. Abrahams came to the rescue

and ‘ spotted’ it at once. The cock must be a handsome bird.


A pair of Citril Finches {Chrysomitris citrinella') may also

be mentioned, though thej^ should more properly be included

under the Siskins. They are seldom imported, but are neither

particularly ornamental nor interesting.


I have two pairs of Diuca Finches, which can be cordially

recommended as strong, adtive, good-natured and striking look¬

ing birds. Their song, however, is as much a myth as that of



