The lindnnincc oj lairds. 
247 
T have successfully wintered all the fore.^oiiiL; species out 
of doors, but consider this risky durini;- wet seasons, and on wet 
retentive soils. They can he wintered indoors in a roomy 
tiiyht-cage in an unheated room without difficulty. 
With few exceptions the S j^cniio [^liila have not been 
largely kept; in fact, have not ]:)een much asked for, their 
attracti\ e qualities and characteristics not beiny surface ones. 
I )n'cA I-'iN'cu { Diuca diiica ). This is a \ ery nice species 
indeed, and a very handsome bird in its well-contrasted plumage 
of grey and white. In appearance ai:d form it is very similar 
to the Grey Cardinal, but has a grey instead of a red crest. 
It has never been a coimnon species in aviaries, only 
appearing on the market at intervals, but it has bred in English 
aviaries oi: one or two occasions. 
It can be wintered out of doors. It should be treated 
similarly to the cardinals and must have a liberal supply of 
live-food when it is feeding young. 
Painted Finxh (Enihlciiia picta). A beautiful Australian 
species, which has never been common, though at one period 
quite a few pairs were imported by Messrs. Payne and Wallace, 
and distributed among English aviculturists. Their cost was 
£5 per pair. 
I obtained one of these pairs, but owingf to their cost and 
rarity I did not risk them out of doors, but kept them in a roomy 
cage in the birdroom. against my own judgment, and paid the 
price of my folly by losing the hen from liver trouble. She laid 
one clutch of eggs before her decease. 
Uur member, Mr- 11. Willford, successfully bred the 
species in his Isle of Wight aviaries, and others all but 
succeeded. I do not think a single living specimen of this 
superb species now exists in this country. 
It should be wintered indoors, but heat is not required. 
A coloured plate and descripti\e article has ajjpeared in this 
Journal {vide Vol. vii., first series, page 241). 
(To be eofitinued ). 
