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CRIMSON FINCHES AND RUFOUS-TAILED FINCHES.


Sir, —My experience of Crimson Finches bears out the general

opinion. I bought two cocks and a hen in November, 1897. They lived

peaceably in a cage by themselves (as I did not put them into my aviarv-

cage) until last August. There the cocks were always pulling out the hen’s

tail and maltreating her. I caught her out to let her tail grow in peace, and

then the two cocks began fighting furiously. So I put back the hen and

took away the most quarrelsome of the cocks. I was never able to put him

back, as each time I tried it he flew at the other cock, and I had to interfere

at once.


I, therefore, parted with him, and, as the other cock and hen showed

nesting desires, I put them in a larger cage with materials for building.

The cock soon built a lovely domed nest of moss, and sprays of flowering

grass. He did nearly all the building, but the hen used to sit in the nest a

good deal. She laid two eggs, but never sat on them, and after allowing

due time to elapse, I took away eggs and nest, and put the birds back in

their smaller cage for the winter. This year I shall try them again in the

summer.


I was much interested in Mr. Seth-Smitli’s account of his Rufous¬

tailed Grassfinches. My cock died in June, 1898, but my hen is still in

beautiful plumage ; in fact she almost resembles a young cock, and has

much more red about her face than the hen in the coloured picture. Had

she notproved her sex by laying eggs, one might have doubted it. I bought

the pair three years ago, and they seem to be hardy birds.


I may mention that I was told I might keep a Crimson Finch hen

with other birds, so I have an odd hen in my aviary cage, but she is inclined

to be quarrelsome at times and bullies a pair of White-cheeked Grassfinches

especially. However, I hope I shall not have to banish her, as she is a very

pretty bird. My cock Crimson Finch is a picture of colour now.


I have a solitary specimen of Lagonosticta 7 -nfopicta: I believe Mr.

Abrahams calls them Ruddy Fire Finches. It is a lovely- little bird. ^ I

obtained a pair from Dresden last August, but the hen died.


C. Hodgson.



