The Iiiidiiraiirc of Hlrds. 
-'45 
his wife takes l)ut a perfunctory interest in his i)rocee(hnL;s. 
Some days a.uo I let out the cock Pennant ah-eady referred to, 
whose mate was also free. The following- morning- Joseph 
had the gratification of indulging in a form of entertainment, 
belo\ed of his sex and race, to wliich he had been long 
an unwilling" stranger, viz : a good set-to witli another cock 
Broadtail. The first battle left the Pennant with the honours 
of war, but subsequent engagements appear to have gone in 
loseph's favour, for his rival now makes way for him wdicn 
they meet. 1 fear, however, he will have to take second place 
if a pair of Blue-bonnets I am releasing should stay, for few 
Parrakeets are a match for the vicious little monkey in brown 
and blue, whom even an owl will not tackle. 
<^»<> 
The Endurance of Birds. 
By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., etc. 
(Coiifiiiiicd from page 
Bl.-\ck- HEADED LixKD Fixcii ( SpcvuiopJiUa occUata). All 
the species of this genus I have kept (some 20) are great 
favourites with me. They are wee grosbeaks of dainty form 
and of pleasing" if not gorgeous plumage. They are good 
songsters and make charming cagfe pets and most desirable 
aviary birds. OccUata is glistening greenish-black above and 
white beneath; with a black gorget and half collar, two white 
patches on the lower face and a white wing speculum- The 
female differs entirely from the male, beiiig dull olive above and 
bufifish-white beneath. Total length 4VI. in., tail i;^4 in- 
So far as I remember this species has not been bred in 
captivity. 
Bluish Finch (S. cacnilcsccns ) . Somewhat similar to 
the White-throated Finch but is a little smaller and has a black 
chin-patch. It has not bred in captivity in this country. 
Fire-red Finch (S. iiiiiiufa). This dainty finch is one 
of the gems of the genus; trim and tightly feathered, and almost 
always uttering his sweet little song. A grand aviary bird, full 
