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Dr. A. G. Butler



pair of the Ringed finch ; most of them did not survive for many

months, but one Bicheno’s finch lived for three or four years, and

one Ringed finch for over a year. I believe these little birds require

plenty of small living insects to keep them in vigorous health. Of

Cherry finches I have had three pairs, two of which attempted to

breed, both building and laying, but in each case the birds were

interfered with ; as they are quite hardy, I was a good deal dis¬

appointed when these birds died without leaving progeny to fill up

the vacant place. Mr. Abrahams gave me a pair of the Indian

Silver-bill, but they proved to be extremely delicate and did not live

for many months : the African Silver-bill, of which I have kept many

specimens, is far more hardy, but I never succeeded in breeding it.


I have had many Ribbon finches; they are not altogether

trustworthy with weaker birds : my first attempt at breeding the

species was the only successful one owing to the susceptibility of the

hens both of this species and the Red-headed finch to egg-binding';

of the latter finch I have had four cocks and one hen : males of both

species are fairly long-lived as a rule. The genus Amadina is a

group which might be placed either among the Grass finches or

Mannikins, between which it is a connecting link. As a matter of fact

the two divisions of the Muniince are purely arbitrary and merely a

convenience for breaking up a long series of species ; in like manner

the Quail finch might be placed in either division.


Of both Sharp-tailed and Striated finches I have kept many

examples ; as also, of course, of the three varieties of the Bengalee.

The Common Spice-bird was one of the first foreign birds which I

purchased (at an absurdly high price) ; subsequently I had many

examples, among which there were doubtless individuals of the true

Bar-breasted finch (M. subundulata). Mr. Abrahams gave me a

pair of Tugela finches in 1894. Of Pectoral finches I have had

seven examples, two pairs which I bought and three specimens sent

to me anonymously; they are handsome birds, but rather inclined

to interfere with the nesting-operations of other species and not

especially interesting themselves; they seemed fairly hardy, but

several of them appear to have escaped from my aviaries through

surprisingly small knot-holes in the wood ; unless, perchance, they



