i4



handsome bird, but has no song worthy of note, and being of a wild and

timid disposition, it is not much cared for as a cage bird. It is a nice bird

for an aviai'y, although sometimes quarrelsome.


The Snow Bunting is another strikingly handsome aviary bird —

especially the adult male, which is nearly all white. It is larger than the

birds previously mentioned, not very intelligent, and extremely clumsy in

a cage. As a rule it gets very fat, which is probably caused by its indolent

habits.


The Lapland Bunting is now classed amongst our native birds, as it

is taken in considerable numbers every year around our southern and

eastern coasts— it is a little more interesting than the Snow Bunting, but

has many of the same characteristics.


The Tree or Mountain Sparrow is of quite the opposite disposition to

the Snow and Lapland Buntings. Instead of annoying one by its laziness,

it keeps up a perpetual fluttering when caged, and if put in an aviary will

endeavour to hide itself whenever anyone approaches. Its extreme shyness

and dislike of confinement, make it unsuitable for captivity, although its

soft colours are very beautiful.



NEW BOOKS.


“ Foreign Finches in Captivity,” by Arthur G. Butler, Ph.D., F.L-S.,

F.Z.S., F.F.S.


The appearance of the first part of Dr. Butler's book on foreign

finches marks a very distinct advance in the literature of Aviculture.

The writer is peculiarly fitted for his task, no less by his scientific

attainments than by his long and large experience in the keeping and breed¬

ing of foreign birds, and he has been fortunate in securing the services of an

artist whose illustrations are as true to nature as they are artistic and

beautiful.


The word “finch” is used in this book with a somewhat extended

meaning, and embraces not only the true finches and the Ploceidse or weav¬

ing finches, but also the Tanagers, which are considered to be finch-like

birds that have taken to a diet of fruit and insedts, and have become

structurally modified in consequence.


The first number deals with the Tanagers and commences the

typical finches (Fringillinse).


The Tanagers described by Dr. Butler, are the Superb, the Paradise,

the Violet and the Scarlet. For these birds, he recommends one of the pre¬

pared foods for insectivorous birds. The food in question is no better and no

worse than a dozen others (and it is perhaps a mistake in a work of this

description to quote the opinions, and advocate the wares, of a particular

dealer quite so prominently) but Tanagers require a liberal allowance of

sweet fruit and a few meal worms, or other insect food, daily, to keep them in

health. The coloured plates of the four species are admirable,especially those

of the Violet and the Scarlet Tanagers, which could hardty be improved

upon.


Dealing with the Superb Tauager, the author quotes largely from

the description given by Dr. Russ,which by no means does justice to this very

attractive bird. The Superb Tauager is not a difficult bird to keep, though

it will not stand a temperature falling below 45 degrees. Like all soft-

billed birds, it requires more trouble and attention than a seed-eating

species ; but it certainly is not (as Dr. Russ states) either a very greedy or a

very uncleanly bird.


The author is at his best in describing the true finches. A most full and

interesting account is given of the Scarlet Rose-finch, a species rarely seen

and but little known in captivity, and not mentioned in previous works on

foreign cage-birds. The coloured plate of this species is extremely good ;

but that of the Saffron-finch is less successful, being rather too highly

coloured.



