The Etiduraiicc of Birds. 
They arc an acquisition in any aviary, tlie l)eauty of the 
male being undeniable, and amid the foliai4"e of. say, a privet 
bush or retinospora, this wee hery feathered sprite is a sight to 
be remembered. In fact, in a roomy outdoor aviary, several 
pairs should be given summer quarters therein. 
They recjuire only the usual seed menu at all times, as 
they catch sufficient small insects in the aviary tcj rear their 
young successfully. 
An African species. 
Red-he.'\ded Finxh (A))nuiiiia crythroccpJiala) . A large, 
rather clumsily formed, tinch, yet nevertheless a very handsome 
one too, in fact a sort of large edition of the Cutthroat, minus 
its scarlet breast band, with which it rather readily interbreeds, 
quite handsome hybrids being the result. It is hardy and can 
be successfully kept out of doors all the year round. 
The sexes are easily distinguished as the female lacks the 
red-head of the male. 
I should class this species as a free but irregular breeder, 
that is, once a " breeding pair " is obtained, brood after brood 
will be reared without difficulty while the season lasts. 
I have found them quite amiable in a mixed series of 
large ai:d small birds. 
Its native habitat is Africa. 
RuFiCAUDA Finch (Bathilda nificciuda ) . This handsome 
grassfinch is an ornament to any aviary. It is vivacious, merry 
and active, and consequently — a most desirable feature — is 
frequently " in the picture." 
Though quite capable of passing the winter out of doors 
in any aviary containing a dry, draught-proof shelter, yet an 
abnormally wet winter tries it severely, and after such a period 
there are often annoying losses in the early spring, and when 
such a winter turns up it had better be taken indoors : neverthe- 
less, during any ordinary, normal English winter it can be left 
out without causing it any discomfort. 
