Endurance of Birds. 
Crimson Finch (Ncochmia phacion). This beautiful 
finch adorns any aviary and collection, however select. 
Besides its well known popular name " Crimson Finch " 
it is also known as the Australian Firefinch, and Australian 
Fire-tailed Finch, but these names are seldom used in this 
country. 
The general colouration of the male is crimson, spotted 
with white on the sides of the body; the crown and back of the 
neck are dark slate-colour, and the back reddish-brown. It is 
of very elegant shape with a long drooping tail. The hen 
rufous-brown, with the sides of face crimson. 
They are somewhat delicate when first imported, but when 
once acclimatised are very hardy. 
They are seed-eaters, and require canary, white and 
Indian millet seeds and green food, with an occasional insect, 
but in a garden aviary the latter need not be supplied except 
when they are feeding young, when the supply should be ample 
They are ready enough to go to nest, but they are not 
l)iolific breeders, will nest several times in the season but 
seldom rear any young, usually throwing out their young when 
a day or two old, and theii going to nest again. A pair in one 
of my aviaries, wh.ich have been out of doors for the past two 
winters, acted in this manner last year, and have already had two 
useless clutches this season, and have just hatched out their 
third brood, which from their i)ehaviour there appears to be just 
a chance they may rear — I certainly hope so. 
They have an unenviable reputation for murderous pug- 
nacity, but I must speak of them as I find them, and in mv large 
aviary (40 feet x 30 feet— 8 feet to 10 feet high), with plenty of 
natural cover they have given no trouble whatever. However, 
there is no doubt whatever but that these exquisite birds are 
really dangerous in a mixed collection if space be at all limited. 
Cuban Finch ( Phompara canora). Another very beautiful 
species, thick set, but very shapely nevertheless, and in some 
aviaries quite a prolific breeder. About the size of a Blue Tit, of 
stout build and has a short tail. 
