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This bird is described by travellers in Brazil as a “ delight¬

ful songster”—all I can say on this point is that the specimen in

my possession has scarcely sung at all during the two } r ears he

has been in my bird-room, although he seems in perfect health.

Occasionally he utters a few long-drawn notes, hardly to be

called a song, and sometimes he constantty repeats one loud

mournful note, much like the note of the Virginian Cardinal.

My bird is perfectly peaceable, but he gets strangely excited if

any of the birds in the bird-room call loudly to one another.

He seems specially excited when he can hear the birds calling,

but cannot see them. I suppose the excitement is due to

curiosity. It is probably only an individual peculiarity.


It is a native of Brazil.


The Plumbeous Finch (Spermophila plumbea ).


The Plumbeous Finch is one of the least attractive birds

of the genus Spermophila ; it is ashy-gray or lead colour all over,

with the exception of a small white mark on the cheek close to

the beak. The beak is blackish. In size it resembles the White-

throated Finch. The above description applies to the male

only. I have seen a bird which was said to be a female of this

species, and it may have been what it w T as represented to be ; but if

so then the hen Plumbeous Finch is practically indistinguishable

from the hen White-throated Finch.


This species appears to be less sprightly in its habits than

the White-throated Finch, and is not nearly so pretty.


I once possessed a specimen for a short time, but I did not

care for the bird and soon got rid of it. Mine did not sing while

in my possession, but I am told by other aviculturists who have

kept this bird that it has a very sweet song.


It is found in Brazil and Bolivia.


The Reddish Finch (,Spermophila nigro-auranlia).


This is one of the smallest and also one of the most

beautiful of the Spermophila ?—unfortunately it seems also to be

more delicate than its cousins, at any rate when first imported.


The general colour of the male is cinnamon, with a black

crown and dark wings and tail. The female is olive-brown

above and yellowish-brown underneath.


It is a native of Southern Brazil.


The Spectacled Finch (Spermophila ophthalmica).


This bird seems to be rarer than any of the others of this

genus which are here described. My reason for including it in



