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The scientific names here given in most instances differ from those

applied to the birds in the older works on cage-birds. It is very desirable

that avicultnrists should get into the habit of using those names which have

received the sanction of the custodians of our National Collection at South

Kensington, because those names are now generally accepted bv the

scientific world, and because their use renders it much more easy to identify

birds by means of the elaborate description of the plumage given in the

British Musem Catalogue. The Catalogue seldom gives the English names, my

list of names will therefore facilitate reference to that work. It is surely

time for a uniform system of nomenclature to be adopted by aviculturists.

It ought no longer to be permissible for a popular writer on aviculture to

re-christen a well-known foreign bird with a name which he has invented

on the spur of the moment, and which he boldly announces to be “ the

scientific name.”



OUR BIRDS.


III.


By Henry J. FueLJames.


I am very pleased to see, in the May number of the Aaicultural

Magazine, a paper which I trust will be only the first of a series of chatty

articles upon our pet hobby, as such experiences cannot fail to be of

interest and instruction to some of us younger aviculturists. If. for

instance, the article by Mr. Fillmer had been published a month ago, it

would have saved me, for one, the necessity of learning by personal

experience the quarrelsome disposition of the Australian Fire-finch or

Crimson Finch.


About a month since. I purchased a pair of these birds, together with

a pair of the rare and delicate Rufous-tailed Grass Finch {Bathilda rujicaudai.

The four birds had been kept for some days by the dealer in an open waggon

cage on his counter, and no trouble had arisen, all four birds being in

perfect plumage. I have since concluded that this apparent peacefulness

was only in consequence of the position the birds occupied in the shop, as

the many transactions taking place throughout the day over the counter,

gave the'birds sufficient occupation to distract their attention from fighting.

When I got them home, I put all four birds into a cage for a day or two,

preparatory to turning them into the small birds’ aviary, and whenever I was

in the bird-room the conduct of the Fire-finches was perfectly exemplary.

After a couple of days, however, the cock Rufous-tail appeared to be in a

violent moult, and I put him into a cage by himself. The next day, his

hen was in the same plight; and I had to take her out, leaving the pair of

Fire-finches to themselves. Up to this time, I had no suspicion that it was

the Fire-finches that had caused the mischief; but on the following day, I

happened to just catch the cock driving his hen from pillar to post, and

then I knew what had nearly killed the other pair. Instead of separating

the Fire-finches, however, I turned them, at once, into the aviary, where,

contrary to the experience of Mr. Fillmer, their conduct has been every¬

thing that could be desired. The pair of birds are quite inseparable, and

their favourite position is on a small spray of pine tree which is fixed to

the bars of the aviary. From this they are scarcely ever absent, and

molest neither each other nor any of the fift} r or so other occupants of the

aviary.


Mr. Fillmer is extremely lucky in having only one Separate cage in

his bird-room. For myself, I wish I could say likewise. My own room has

one wall completely filled with separate cages. I have a Shaina who is a

perfect terror when in the aviary, although ill a cage aloim he is perfectly

tame, and a great pet. A Crimson-throated Whydah, also, is condemned to

solitary confinement from the same cause; another sinner in this respedl

being a White-eared Bulbul, who would, an he could, spend his whole day

driving the other birds about. A cage is also occupied by a piping

Bullfinch, who is a famous piper, and who would, of course, be lost in a



