i66 Bird - Lore 



Some males now moulting have brilliant color in patches; some have pink 

 on the breast; others rose-red heads; one is mottled in rose, brown, and gray; 

 another has a blood-red (almost purple) head and neck; another has pin- 

 feathers all over the head and bright rose just above the tail. All are getting 

 a little more perceptibly mature each day, and if they stay I shall have a 

 wonderful exhibition of males as "purple" as they ever are, I expect. 



This mixture of red of various tints among the brown females, when the 

 sun shines full upon them all, is something extremely beautiful. Speaking of 

 sunshine makes me think of one other thing to write about. One day I noticed 

 one of the birds squatting on the shelf, tail and one wing spread out to the fullest 

 extent, one leg stretched as far as possible to one side, its neck turned so far 

 around that the head seemed upside down, mouth open, and feathers fluffed 

 out all over the body. Such a strange position ! I felt sure this Finch was dy- 

 ing, and feared I had given it something that had poisoned it, for in my great 

 desire to keep these Finches here I had put out fruit (which they do not eat) , 

 crumbs of cake, crackers, etc. Consequently I was much relieved when another 

 Finch, flying to the shelf just at this time, pecked the first bird, instantly re- 

 storing him to life and flight. Since then I have often seen seven or eight birds 

 at the same time, in as many ungainly and ludicrous positions, "sunning" 

 themselves in the bright, hot sunshine. It surely is a laughable sight, and they 

 do look as if they were "passing away" in good earnest, but if anything dis- 

 turbs them they are alive and alert in an instant. 



Just one other incident. A male alighted on the edge of the shelf one morn- 

 ing; he was all by himself. After eating for a few moments, he gave a little 

 call, sweet and low and plaintive, then another and another, each time a little 

 louder than before. Then I heard an answer from a tree nearby, and, after 

 numerous repetitions, he began to sing. Such a joyous, bubbling-over song ! 

 The notes fairly tumbled over each other, they came so fast, and before this 

 musical treat was quite over, a modest brown lady stood beside him. The 

 male went quite close to her, twittering and chirping and talking, then he 

 spread his beauty before her, hopping off a little way, then coming back, strut- 

 ting and bowing in a most comical way, all the time with wings out and tail 

 up, showing that beautiful rose-colored body and the brilliant crest on his head. 

 The lady looked on admiringly, showing her approval by putting her head 

 round on one side and then on the other and making little soft sounds until he 

 must have understood that she was ready to give him her "hand and her 

 heart," for again came that happy, exuberant, melodious singing, and they 

 flew away together. 



These birds have been a constant source of delight to me and to my friends, 

 and I wish I might share it with all bird-lovers ! Has anyone else ever had a 

 like experience? I might add that my home is in the midst of a city of 80,000 

 inhabitants, but stands by itself, surrounded by three or four acres of land 

 and many trees of various kinds. 



