126 



British Cage Birds. 



of England, for I have frequently seen them advertised in 

 The Bazaar newspaper, by fanciers living in Cambridgeshire 

 and Devonshire, at so low a price as 3s. per pair. The 

 birds are very pugnacious when kept with others in a cage 

 or aviary, and appear to be of a quarrelsome disposition. 

 Handsome male birds are sought after by fanciers who have 

 a penchant for exhibiting British birds at shows ; and as 

 these opportunities increase yearly, we may expect to find 

 the Mountain Finch become more valuable. In an open 

 class a handsome Brambling stands a very good chance of 

 obtaining a prize, for very few of the Finch tribe can be 

 compared with it, so far as external appearance is con- 

 cerned, and as singing is not a recognised feature in a 

 show specimen, its chances of success are very great. 



Diseases and their Treatment. — Mountain Finches are 

 liable to be attacked with the same diseases as affect other 

 members of the Finch family, and the treatment and remedies 

 advocated for the Goldfinch {s,ee pp. 88 and 89) will be 

 found equally applicable and efficacious in their case. 



