i 5 6 



CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



that has the effect of being produced by ventriloquism. All parts of the country are frequented 

 by these busy birds, who usually keep together in tolerably numerous parties. When flying, they 

 dart along with the velocity of an arrow, beating the air rapidly with their wings — in short whether 

 upon the ground, hopping about among the bushes, or hanging like Titmice from the branches 

 they prove themselves at least the equals of any of their congeners. Their breeding season 

 commences with the spring, though some species lay much later in the year ; the brood consists of 

 from three to six eggs, and the young are fed exclusively upon insects, which, together with a variety of 

 seeds, constitute the food of the parent birds. The enemies of these pretty creatures are extremely 



the guttarama (Euphone violacea). 



numerous, man himself being first upon the list, in revenge for the mischief done to his fruit and com. 

 Some Falcons subsist entirely upon them, and a variety of other destroyers kill and devour them in 

 large numbers. 



THE BAND-BIRD. 



The Band-bird, or Collared Finch (Amadina fasciata), well known in seaport towns, is the 

 species we have selected for special description, as being a worthy representative of its race. Its beak 

 is extremely strong, and nearly as high and broad as it is long ; the upper mandible is somewhat 

 flattened at its origin, and the ridge arched from the forehead ; the lower mandible is very wide ; the 

 wings are of middle size, and the three first quills of-nearly equal length ; the tail is short, and rounded 

 at its tip. The plumage is brown, spotted with a lighter shad~, and prettily marked with black ; the 

 tail black, tipped with white. The entire length of this elegant little creature does not exceed five 

 inches, the wing two and a quarter inches, and the tail one and three-quarter inches. The coat of the 

 male bird is of a beautiful brown, darker upon the back, and lighter on the under part of the body, 



