Foreign Birds. 
359 
Foreign Birds. 
By WESLiiY T. Page, F.Z.S., etc. 
{Continued from 'page 336). 
Violet Euphonia (Eupho?iia violacea). This common 
species, common because it has been known for so long and 
is one of the most frequently imported, is yet one of the most 
beautiful of the gorgeous family TANAGrilD.-E. As already 
remarked I believe many of those imported and accepted as 
Violet " Tanagers " have been some other species, being al- 
together of a darker hue on the upper surface, than the charm- 
ing blue of the true violacea. In fact, I believe, a male which 
I have is of some other species, but 1 am not prepared to 
define it, till the change to adult plumage is quite complete. 
Not the least of the charms of this delightful bird is its song, 
in the aviary this is very pleasing, what it amounts to in the 
cage I cannot say. 
Dr. A. G. Butler, in his " Foreign Finches," quotes 
the late Dr. K. Russ as follows: — 
" The Common Piper i^der yemeine Organist) — Sometimes 
" common in the market. Harmless and peaceable in the bird- 
" room. Song droll, ventriloquial, intermixed with single pro- 
" longed sounds and tones not witliout beauty, industrious ; de- 
" cidedly not a superior songstei-, however, as it has been fabled, 
" All these charming organists eat fruit (soft pears they will 
'■ empty clean out, right up to the thin peel), soaked egg-brcad 
" in marvellous quantities, and they produce a eonesponding 
" amuunt of dirt. They are, moreover, very frail, did not live 
" long enough to breed in my bird-room, though 1 have liad a 'good 
"many pairs; hitherto have only gone to nest with Mrs. 
" von. Proschek, in Vienna, but without result. Price ten to 
" twelve shillings per pair."* 
Not a great deal is recorded as to its wild life, but from 
the records of various naturalists (W. Forbes, Neuwied, and 
others) we gather: that it is found both in the vicinity of 
high forests and gardens; and throughout the whole 
wooded country of Brazil; that it is a commonly caged bird 
in the localities where it abides; that it is active, liveiy, viv- 
acious, and a rapid tiier. 
Its food in a state of nature consists of many varieties 
* Really lower than their present market value in this 
country. 
