104 
CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
back is olive green, so that she closely resembles the siskin^, 
especially when in her winter plumage ; which, in the male^ 
also becomes somewhat of an olive tint. The treatment of 
these birds in confinement may be, in every respect, like that 
of the native goldfinches. Feed them with thistle seed and 
other dainties, and they will become very familiar. We are 
not aware that they have ever been induced to breed here, 
but think it likely that they might with a little care and 
attention ; attempts have been made, as Wilson relates, to 
make them pair with the canary, which in appearance they 
much resemble, but, hitherto, with little success. Their 
song is much like that of our goldfinch, only weaker : in the 
cage they often sing with great energy and animation. 
THE BRAZILIAN FINCH 
Is about the size of the siskin ; the prevailing colours of 
the plumage are black and brown ; the beak is of a coral 
red, and the eyelids scarlet : the sides of the head, around 
the eyes, purple ; the legs and feet are light gray. In the 
female, the under parts of the body, which in the male?, 
are black, are yellow and white ^ in other respects shef 
resembles the cock. This is a very pretty lively bird, with 
an agreeable song ; it may be treated like the last. 
THE BLUE-BELLIED FINCH. 
This is an African bird, somewhat smaller than the Bra- 
zilian finch, being about four inches and a quarter long; 
it has, like that bird, a longish conical tail, which is of a 
blue colour, as are also the sides of the head, the under part 
of the neck, the breast, the abdomen, the rump, and vent; it 
has a flesh-coloured beak, compressed at the sides, and very 
pointed ; the feet are pale brown ; the vertex and upper part/ 
of the body ashy brown, with a tinge of purple ; a curved"' 
patch of this colour may likewise be observed beneath each 
eye. The female is without these distinctive marks. These 
birds came to Europe chiefly from Angola and Guinea ; the 
male has an agreeable, though weak song. They should be 
fed on crushed hemp, canary, and poppy seed, and kept 
warm. 
