on the Himalayan Goldfi?ich.



25



ranging, according to season, from five to ten thousand feet. So,

as I was never there in the winter months, it is not astonishing

that I never saw it. Perhaps Mr. Harper, who was much on the

hills, may have done so.


I have, however, seen a good many of these birds in

Calcutta, whither they are brought from Cabul. During the

first few years of iny stay in Calcutta, I only saw a few isolated

specimens in Mr. Rutledge’s possession, but in 1897 a fail-

number arrived, and I got six and sent them on to the London

Zoological Gardens, where three arrived safely. They were new

to the collection, and, I believe, to English aviculture, as I

never heard of the species in England before. Dr. Sclater, in

acknowledging their receipt, mentioned that he had reserved

one for a private experiment in pairing it with a Common Gold¬

finch ; this should have been interesting, and perhaps he can

tell us how it turned out.


In 1900 a really large consignment was brought down by

an Afghan—I remember the man well, as he had blue eyes,

uncommon among natives—but these did not sell well, and

remained a long time on the market dealers’ hands. They got

into a deplorable state, losing most of their feathers : this was, I

fancy, due to plucking by their companions in the store-cages,

for under proper treatment, in separate cages or in a large flight-

cage the birds did well, like the Common Goldfinch, which is

often brought to India and stands the heat perfectly, not gasping

as some even of the native birds do.


Not many of these Himalayan Goldfinches have been on

sale in England, but during the last year or two a few have been

obtainable, though they did not meet with much favour. As

they have been said to sing better than the European Goldfinch,

they might prove superior to that bird for breeding mules for

singing purposes; and for all we know they may be readier to

cross with the Canary—at any rate they would be worth trying.


I have never seen the “ Cheverel ” or white - chinned

variation among these birds, after examining many living

specimens and the good series of skins in the Indian Museum,

but it very likely may occur nevertheless, as allied species often

vary in the same way. Nor did I see any other variation.



