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white on the face is quite sufficient to distinguish P. personata.

It is curious that several pairs of P. acuticaiida should have lately

reached England from France, considering the keenness with

which French dealers look out for this bird. A Marseilles dealer

told me that it was the most expensive to buy on board ship of

all the foreign finches. It certainly is more ornamental and

better tempered than the Parson Finch.


Of the Erythriirci I have six pairs of Pin-tailed Nonpareils,

two or three Parrot Finches, and four Three-coloured Parrot

Finches (E. trichroa). The latter are always in fine condition,

so, as a rule, are the Pin-tailed Nonpareils, but I should be

ashamed to say how many Parrot Finches I have lost. Many of

the Pin-tailed Nonpareils have been in the bird-room for two

years and over. Except a couple of pairs of Dufresue’s Waxbills,

nothing I have is worth mentioning in this class save, perhaps,

a hybrid between the Grey Waxbill, and the Orange-cheeked

Waxbill. There are five pairs of Cordon Bleus, not one of

which has died during two years and a half. Mr. Abrahams has

succeeded in getting me a pair of Violet-eared, but they have

not arrived yet.


Other birds include four pairs of that ridiculous creature

the Frontal Grosbeak ( Sporopipes frontalis). Half Weavers and

half Sparrows, they belie their lineage by being of a peaceful

disposition ; and they sing like Mannikins ! Each pair appears

inseparable. Eating, drinking and as nearly as possible flying

together, they look like Siamese twins. A row of them gradually

elongating their necks simultaneously is an absurd sight.


There is also a Streaky-headed Grosbeak ( Poliospiza

gularis ) and two cocks of that delightful little bird the White-

backed Eark ( Pyrrhulauda leucotis ), about the size of a Linnet.

Also a pair of the nearly allied White - crowned Lark ( P .

verticalis). Those last-named four birds are somewhat comba¬

tive, which, under the circumstances, is hardly to be wondered

at.


I may also mention two hybrids between the Serin and

Green Singing Finches.


I have also a flight cage of Weavers, some Black-tailed

Hawfinches, and a pair of Shamas, which I consider worth all

the other birds put together. But that is another story.



