13



II.


THE PARROT FINCH.


By H. R. Firmer.


The Parrot Finch {erythrura psittacea) is a native of New Caledonia,

and is one of the most lovely birds ever seen in a cage.


The general colour is bright grass-green with a beautiful golden

lustre; the whole of the face, crown, throat and breast are bright crimson,

and the tail and upper tail coverts a slightly duller crimson. The bill and

feet are black.


This bird is nearly related to the Pin-tailed Nonpareil ( e. prasina ) but

while that is avery delicate bird the Parrot Finch appears to be quite hardy.

It appreciates paddy rice, and should always have a supply of it in addition

to canary seed and both kinds of millet seed. It is very fond of fruit.


The Parrot Finch has no song, and its cry is at once shrill and

harsh. Acccording to Wiener, the hen is only distinguishable by the

smaller extent of the red colour on the breast. Mr. Wiener was successful

in breeding this species, but it is so rarely imported that very few have had

an opportunity of testing its inclination to nest in this country.


My knowledge of the bird is confined to a single specimen, which

has now been in my possession nearly a year and a half, and it had passed

one winter in Britain before I purchased it. I have not seen another

specimen for nearly three years. It is a remarkably healthy and active

bird, but unfortunately very wild. I have always been afraid to trust it

amongst other birds, and therefore cannot say whether it is peaceable or

quarrelsome.


There is a still rarer species called the Three-coloured Parrot Finch.



OUR WINTER VISITORS.


By Warter Swaystand.


(Author of “ Familiar Wild Birds ” and “ British Cage Birds.”)


At this season of the year we are looking for our winter visitors, some

of which make exceptionally interesting cage birds. The Siskin is one

which is somewhat uncertain in its arrival, the number varying greatly from

year to year, but as a good many have already been seen it is likely to be

fairly plentiful this autumn. This pretty green bird is the tamest of all our

British Finches, and can be easily taught some simple tricks, such as

opening a little box containing maw-seed or hemp-seed. (There is no cruelty

involved in this, if the bird is always well supplied with some less favourite

food, such as canary seed, in an open vessel). The siskin has a pretty jerk}'

song, with a long harsh note at the end.


The Lesser Redpole is also very common this year, it is, however, not

so erratic in its visits as the siskin, and is to be found in large numbers every

autumn. It is not quite so bold as the Siskin, but is exceedingly tame and

quite as intelligent. From a school-boys point of view, it is one of the

jolliest of birds.


The Mealy Redpole is only very occasionally seen here in its wild

state, last year there were a fair number, but they were the first for several

years. Most of those seen at Bird .Shows are imported from Germany or

Russia. The Mealy Redpole is larger than the common redpole, and of a

much lighter colour.


The Twite, which greatly resembles the Linnet, but has a yellowish

beak, is pretty well distributed at this time of the year all round our coasts,

but it does not as a rule congregate far inland, unless it is on the banks of

large rivers, or the marshy land adjacent. Its song is inferior to that of the

Linnet, and it does not usually live so long in captivity.


The Brambling, or Mountain Finch, has been well called our winter

chaffinch, which it is much like in every respedt but colour. It is a very



