129



are the three necessaries any one of which will sell a bird ; but

where all are absent one might almost as well breed sparrows.


XII.—THE EINNET.


Acanihis cannabina, Einn.


By J. H. Verrare.


This bird, which is variously known as the Brown Einnet,

Common Einnet, Grey Einnet, Red Einnet, Whin Einnet,

Einnet Finch, Red-headed Einnet, Rose Einnet, Yellow Einnet,

Eint-white, Eittle Einnet, and Song Einnet, presents at times a

different appearance according to sex, age, and season. Pied,

white, and cinnamon varieties are also occasionally seen.


Its usual colour is brown, and it is as a Brown Einnet that

it always appears as a cage-bird, for, notwithstanding that when

caught it may have a brilliant red head and breast (the usual

summer plumage of the adult male), yet after the first moult in

captivity it will become a plain brown bird.


As a songster the Einnet is unsurpassed among seed¬

eating birds. Its song is very sweet, cheerful, and melodious,

and never loud or shrieking.


The Einnet is always a healthy bird in captivity, requiring

no special food or attention, and contented and happy whether

in a small or large cage. It needs only to be supplied with a

mixture of canary and rape seed; ripe groundsel and plantain,

of which it is very fond, may be given occasionally. When a

caged Einnet dies it is usually either from apoplexy or old age.

They have been known to live for eighteen years in a cage.


The Einnet moults very easily, but is better kept warm

during moulting, and the cage should be partially darkened.

Green food is not required at this time—in fadt the bird is

better without it.


Einnets are best caught young in August or at the

beginning of September, before they have acquired the red

feathers on the breast. They then soon become tame, and some

of them will sing within a fortnight of being caught. The

purchaser of an early caught Einnet had better trust to the

honesty of the seller as to the sex, as the difference between the

sexes is then very trifling.


Einnets do not all sing alike—and an exceptionally good

singer, tame and liome-moulted, may be worth as much as

twenty shillings—but they never have a disagreeable note. And

they sing for ten months in the year.



