and it would be interesting to know their experience. The main

point is the provision of ample ventilation, and this is probably

easier to arrange in a properly construdted glass-house than in a

room. I should mention that I do not keep any plants in the

same strudlure with my birds ; but again, I do not see why the

moderately moist atmosphere that the former require (coupled

with free ventilation) should be inimical to the health of the

latter ; in fact, so high an authority as Dr. Russ recommends

that living plants should be kept in the bird- room for the sake

of the beneficial effedts they have on the health of birds.



THE GOLDFINCH.


By J. Lewis Bonhotb.


Of the several species of birds commonly kept in confine-

ment, there is no more universal favourite than the Goldfinch.

It is the most brilliant in plumage of our commoner British

birds ; its ways and habits in a cage, where it may be taught

many little tricks, are pleasing and confiding ; while its song,

though hardly equal to that of the Linnet, is none the less

bright and cheerful. The plumage of the Goldfinch is too well

known to need any description. The female may be readily

distinguished from the male by her duller tints and brown

shoulders. The young, popularly known as " Greypates,"

resemble the adults, except that the head is of a uniform greyish

brown.


There are several varieties of this finch, which are met

with in a wild state, and breed true. The best known of these

is the " Cheverel," in which the chin is white, the white extend-

ing upwards through the black band across the occiput. This

variety is supposed (with what truth I cannot say) to have a

finer song. Another variety is that known as the Pea-throat, in

which the white on the throat, instead of entirely replacing the

red, leaves a small patch the size of a pea. Besides these two

well marked varieties, birds are found in every intermediate

stage, and these are known in bird-catchers' parlance as

" bastard cheverels." The usual other varieties occur, such as

albinism and melanism ; but these changes are often only con-

fined to the head. Lastly, this bird is credited by the ignorant

with many varieties which have no existence, such as Pear Tree,

Fir, Wood, etc. I have several times tried to master the sup-

posed differences between these varieties, but whenever I have

brought a bird-catcher to book, he has said he could not explain.



