'^S3'] General Notes. 24 1 



the birds were cut in such a way that thej could not fly, and they were left 

 to roam about the premises. The friend from whom I received my bird, 

 secured by an accident this one the same month it was caught. 



This gentleman informed me that when he purchased the bird, the tail 

 feathers were out, and the wing feathers cut vei-y close to the body ; but 

 what attracted him more pai-ticularly was its bright rose color. Upon 

 m^ examination, about the middle of May, I found the bird in a very for- 

 lorn looking condition. The wing feathers were fully grown, but the 

 tail feathers had aga.in been pulled out, and though the rose color was 

 very bright, almost as bright as in a Cassin's Purple Finch at its best, the 

 general appearance of the bird was a sorry one. Carefully examining the 

 coloration of the bird, I found that the rose color was very bright on the 

 rump and crissum, and that it continued along the abdomen and on to the 

 breast, well up to the fore neck. The gray, which was strongly silvered, 

 extended well down on the nape, and up to the crown, thence passed 

 towards the bill as far as the lores, encircling the eyes and covering the 

 auriculars, but leaving a dark chocolate patch at the temples, which formed 

 the dividing line at that point between the gray above and below, and con- 

 nected with the like color of the neck. The patches on the crown, chin, 

 and throat were very nearly of the same color, — dark brown ; the crown 

 patch might be called a black. Bill and feet black, the base of the bill 

 encircled by an indistinct line of yellowish-white feathers. Mv friend in- 

 formed me that but little change had taken place in the color of the bird 

 from Februai-y to this date, except that the rose tint had become brighter. 



The bird was represented as being a fine singer and perfectly contented, 

 having" for a companion a Canary. Shortly after this I started on mv 

 western tour, and, on returning a few days ago, this rare bird was pre- 

 sented to me. He is now (August 22) as fine a looking little fellow — 

 plump, healthy and contented — as any bird lover would wish to have for 

 a pet or study. 



The summer has been, and is now. quite a sultry one, but this high-alti- 

 tude bird having been kept -in a cool place seems to fully enjoy his 

 confinement. For one month he has not uttered a note, but has been en- 

 gaged in putting on a new dress, which thus far presents the following: 

 General color, dark chocolate, the feathers of the wings and tail almost 

 black, with edgings of yellowish-white ; the feathers on the neck, breast, 

 and abdomen edged also, but with a more ashen tinge. Points of upper 

 tail-coverts very prominent with yellowish-ash. No rose color anynvkere. 

 Crissum and tibia very light ash; lower tail-coverts light ash, with- a few 

 black central spots. Bill yellotu, with black tip, and immediately back of 

 this black tip the yellow has a peach-blossom tinge. The gray on the 

 head is much duller than when I saw the bird last May, and now falls 

 lower upon the neck, but, instead of covering the auriculars, only encir- 

 cles the eves with a very narrow line above and below, which disappears 

 at the lores. The coloring of the auriculars is such that! think before 

 long this part too will be of a like gray color, and will finally take on the 

 former silvery effect. The crown patch of dark brown continues from its 



