5 ^


the same species will sometimes fight, and occasionally males of

different species may do the same. Still, it is generally quite

safe to keep any number of Spermophilce together, and always

safe to place them among Waxbills and other defenceless birds.

They thrive on the same food as Waxbills : that is, canary seed,

white millet seed, and Indian millet or spray millet. They are

sometimes fond of hempseed, and I believe that a small quantity

is decidedly beneficial to them. Some specimens like fruit,

particularly pears. They are often very fond of green food,

and should have plenty if they will eat it. I have never known

them to touch insedt food.


The White-throated Finch (Spermophila a/bigularis).


This little bird is about the size of the English Goldfinch.

The colouring of the male may be roughly described as follows :

General colour above slate-gray, general colour below white ;

the head, tail and wings black, a band of black across the throat,

the beak yellow, the feet gray. The female is a very unattractive

brown bird, with a black beak.


There is no recorded instance of the successful breeding

of this species in England, but Dr. Butler has had nests built

in his aviary.


The male is a bright, cheerful, pretty bird, and has a

merry little song which is superior to that of most foreign birds,

but is certainly rather “ scroopy.” Attempts to represent the

songs of birds by words are not often successful, but in the case

of the White - throated Finch Dr. Butler has been unusually

happy in his rendering, which is as follows: Chce wow, chee wow,

cheewow, chee wow ; techec, techee, techee ; tswow-tswee, tswow-tswee ;

iechee, techee.


It is sometimes called the Grey Singing Finch by English

dealers, who also give it the name of Pettykever ; indeed, they

apply this last name, not only to all the SpermophilcE, but also to

other small birds of the true names of which they are ignorant.


The White-tliroated Finch is a native of Brazil.


The Hare-white Finch (Spermophila hypoleucaj.


This species is seldom seen in England. It is larger than

the White-throated Finch. The general colour of the male is

slate-gray above and white below, as in the White - throated

Finch, but there is no black on the head or throat. The beak

is darker in colour than that of the White-throated Finch, being

a sort of orange-buff. The female is brown in colour.



