194 BIRDS 



shipped and kept by dealers, ordinarily without sand, and 

 if given sudden access to an unlimited supply will fill their 

 tiny gizzards to the bursting point, with fatal results. Sand 

 should be introduced in pinches for the first few days until 

 the craving for grit has been assuaged. 



The staple food of Waxbills is white millet, to which may 

 be added yellow millet, canary and wild seeds. Spray millet 

 and seeding grasses are greatly appreciated and green food 

 should always be furnished. Many species will eat insects, 

 and a small quantity of soft food is beneficial to most. 



The male Fire Finch (Lagonosticta minima) is a beau- 

 tiful atom, mostly rosy crimson, the back washed with 

 brown and the tail black. The sides of the breast have a 

 few tiny spots of white. The female is more brown, tinged 

 here and there with crimson. This little bird is one of the 

 most delicate in captivity, being very hard to establish. 

 Even then the greatest care is required to keep it in 

 health. 



The Lavender Waxbill (Lagonosticta ccsrulescens) is 

 known to dealers as the " Gray-blue Finch." The sexes are 

 similar, the color being a soft gray, with bl^ck tail, abdomen 

 and facial band. The upper tail coverts and the two middle 

 tail feathers are red. This lovely little bird has almost as 

 bad a reputation as the Fire Finch for delicacy, but once 

 acclimatized it lives fairly well. 



The Strawberry Finch or " Avadavate " {Sporcegin- 

 thus amandava) is found in India and Cochin-China. It is 

 an exceedingly common bird in the market and is deservedly 

 popular. The male is orange-red, with wings and tail black. 

 The wing coverts and underparts are spotted with white. 

 The female is brown above and pale buff below, with simi- 

 lar white spots. The male certainly assumes partial or 

 full female plumage at times, but whether or not this takes 

 place at stated seasons has not been worked out. Although 



