Cranes, Etc., In Captivity. 
219 
the troubles from which hand-i'oai"ed chicks suffer, and their 
health is much improved if their attendant can spare time to 
take them for walks daily. The little fellows soon learn to 
follow, and their absurd antics and confiding ways make them 
the most delightful pets imaginable. Adult Eheas should not, 
however, b'e encouraged to become too tame, as the cocks are 
then apt to become very savage in the nesting season. Strange 
to say, a tdmc? male bird loses much of his ferocity after his 
brood has hatched, his instinct warning him not to risk his 
life in unnecessary battles, at a time when so many other lives 
depend upon him. 
An albino race of the Common Rhea is not uncommon 
and is very pretty. Hybrids betAveen Rhea americava and R. 
darwinii have been produced in this country. 
Dakwin's Rhea (JR. danvimi) is a much rarer species 
than the one we have just been dealing with, and he is easily 
recognisable by its brown plumage mottled with dirty white. 
The sexes are much alike and it is a very difficult matter to 
distinguish the cock bird except by his demeanour in the breed- 
ing season. 
Darwin's Rhea resembles the Common Rhea in most 
of its habits, and is indifferent to cold, but the chicks are more 
tlifncult to raise. They are subject to tuberculosis, gapes, and 
other infectious diseases, and need a wide range over short 
tender grass on perfectly clean ground (do not forget the 
value of a dressing of gas lime in autumn, and salt in spring 
for keeping ground ' sweet ' for birds, and indeed for all kinds 
of animals),. It is also most important that the sitting bird 
should have access to a good dusting place. If he has not, he 
will become badly infested with large voracious parasites which 
will transfer themselves to the chicks and seriously interfere 
with their growth and general well-being. 
♦ 
Breeding of the Black Seed-finch (Melopyrrha 
nigra). 
By Wm. Shore -Baily. 
In January, 1914, I bought, from one of our lady 
members, a pair of Black Cuban Bullfinches (the above is 
the better name), also a lot of other small birds. 
