259



throat; tail black, two of the side feathers being tipped with

white in some specimens. Legs and feet coral red ; bill yellowish

orange or orange red.


The young are much gre} T er than their parents and have

black bills and feet.



THE MASKED GRASSFINCH.


(Poephila personataj .


By Reginald Phillipps.


Some four years ago, the Long-tailed, the White-eared,

and the Masked Grassfinckes were practically unknown to the

majority of aviculturists in this country ; but then there came a

flood of them, and the three species have since been almost

common.


More than once in our Magazine have I referred

incidentally to the species which forms the subject of this

paper. In September, 1S97, at P a g e X S5 of vol. III., I gave

a short account of its habits as a squatter. And in August and

September of the following year, under the heading of The

White-eared Grassfinch, I gave some further particulars, drawing

comparisons between the two species, especially at pages 186-187.

And members who are interested in these little finches, wdiich

are somewhat alike and occasionally mistaken for one another,

should compare Mr. Peter Smit’s beautiful illustration of the

White Ear which faces page 169 of vol. IV. with that of the

Masked Grassfinch, which I understand has been most kindly

painted by Mr. Seth-Smith and is to appear with this article. In

my opinion, not only do illustrations, especially when coloured,

greatfy add to the interest of a magazine, but are of immense

assistance to aviculturists in helping them to identify their pets.

'We ought, therefore, to be particularly grateful to Mr. Seth-Smith

for thus ornamenting our Magazine, and enabling us to see at a

glance the difference between Poephila lencotis and P. personata.


I fear that I have not much of interest to say about the

Masked Grassfinch. It has from time to time nested with me,

but, from various causes, has never brought matters to a

satisfactory conclusion. And it is difficult to know exactly when

they are really nesting and when constructing only a squatting

place. More than once have I said to myself, “ Behold, they

nest! ” when they were building only something on which to

squat. At a bird show, it is very pretty to see these birds

squatting side by side on the bottoms of their cages ; but, when



