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THE PAINTED FINCH. 



Fringilla Ciris, Temm. 



PLATE LIII. Male in different states of Plumage, and Female. 



About the middle of April, the orange groves of the lower parts of 

 Louisiana, and more especially those in the immediate vicinity of the 

 City of New Orleans, are abundantly supplied with this beautiful little 

 Sparrow. But no sooner does it make its appearance than trap-cages are 

 set, and a regular business is commenced in the market of that city. 

 The method employed in securing the male Painted Finch is so con- 

 nected with its pugnacious habits, that I feel incUned to describe it, 

 especially as it is so different from the common way of alluring birds, 

 that it may afford you, kind reader, some amusement. 



A male bird in full plumage is shot and stuffed in a defensive atti- 

 tude, and perched among some grass seed, rice, or other food, on the 

 same platform as the trap-cage. This is taken to the fields or near the 

 orangeries, and placed in so open a situation, that it would be difficult 

 for a living bird of any species to fly over it, without observing it. The 

 trap is set. A male Painted Finch passes, perceives it, and dives to- 

 wards the stuffed bird, with all the anger which its little breast can con- 

 tain. It ahghts on the edge of the trap for a moment, and throwing its 

 body against the stuffed bird, brings down the trap, and is made pri- 

 soner. In this manner, thousands of these birds are caught every spring. 

 So pertinacious are they in their attacks, that even when the trap has 

 closed upon them, they continue pecking at the feathers of the supposed 

 rival. The approach of man seems to allay its anger in a moment. The 

 live bird is removed to the lower apartment of the cage, and is thereby 

 made to assist in decoying others. 



They feed almost immediately after being caught; and if able to 

 support the loss of liberty for a few days, may be kept for several years. 

 I have known some instances of their being kept in confinement for up- 

 wards of ten years. Few vessels leave the port of New Orleans during 

 the summer months, without taking some Painted Finches, and through 

 this means they are transported probably to all parts of Europe. I have 

 seen them offered for sale in London and Paris, with the trifling differ- 



