H7


The original publication of the above description of a

Chaffinch Singing Match was with the object of illustrating

some of the means resorted to, to induce the birds to sing at

their best. Ordinarily, birds are encouraged by whistling or

speaking to them ; but such highly-trained specimens as the two

mentioned are recalled from any lapse of duty by certain signs

or movements of their masters.



RARE FOREIGN BIRDS.


(SECOND SERIES).


VIII.—THE MADEIRAN CHAFFINCH.


Fringilla maderensis.


By A. G. Butler, Ph.D.


This species is strictly confined to Madeira, and when

fully adult is decidedly more beautiful than our British species ;

but when in its first plumage, though slightly larger than our

bird, can hardly be considered finer in colour though somewhat

greyer and paler.


My colleague, Mr. W. R. Oglivie Grant, who visited Madeira

a year or two ago, brought home a fine series of adult skins of

this species, and I was so much struck with their beauty, that I

put a note in my “ Foreign Finches in Captivity,” p. 16, suggest¬

ing the advantage of importing it as a cage-bird. Acting upon

this suggestion, our enterprising member, Mr. J. Abrahams,

immediately wrote for specimens and (having secured them) very

generously gave me a pair.


The birds received are evidently quite young, and there¬

fore do not answer to the scientific description in the Museum

“ Catalogue of Birds ; ” Mr. Grant, to whom I spoke about them,

informed me that he had seen similar examples in Madeira and

considered them to be birds of the year (that is, not over a year

old).


I find this species tamer than our British bird, less

excitable, but also less inclined to be friendly to its mate.

The hen is decidedly afraid of the cock bird and gets out of his

way as soon as he snaps his beak at her. I placed my pair in a

flight-cage, 4 feet by 2, and 16 inches from front to back, hung¬

up a small Canary nest box at the back, and covered it with fir

sprays. At first the female spent nearly the whole of her time

in the box, the male contenting himself with occasionally driving

her out and taking her place. I put in nesting material, but it

was entirely ignored until about the first week in May, when



