A Retrospect. 
There is no seasonable change of plumage ; after the first 
moult in captivity the male loses his bright vermillion under- 
parts, which moult out orange-yellow. In some individuals 
the yellow deepens after each successive moult, but probablv 
never regains its original brilliancy — why? 
The female is roughly a grass-green bird, underparts 
tinged with buff. The young resemble the adult female. 
I have had twenty-seven Nonpareils all told ; in only one 
instance have they attempted to nest with me, and although a 
nest was completed no eggs were laid. 
Both the Indigo and Nonpareil can be safely wintered 
without artificial heat; live insects are necessary during the 
winter months, otherwise they become costive and have fits. 
My experience is that the hens of both species are more easily 
kept in health than cocks. 
To be continued. 
C^M^> 
A Retrospect 
By VV. a. Bainbridge. 
(Continued from page 82). 
The Jacarini Finxh (V olatinia jacarini) is my favourite; 
it is really a little-known bird, although comparatively cheap — 
very like a slim and glorified Steel Pinch, which does not go out 
of colour, and is about the same size; the hen is a brownish 
colour, much striated and with a lighter coloured breast. 
I always liked these birds ; the difficulty was to obtain 
hens, but when a pair was once obtained the rest was easy. 
They go to nest readily; a thin cup-shaped affair is built — three 
or four eggs are laid — generally the former — and the hen is a 
very tight sitter and is hard to disturb. She never resented 
my clumsy attempts to repair her nest, which generally had a 
tendency to fall down. When building they are shy, but when 
once young are in the nest they are extraordinarily tame — the 
hen would take spiders from my fingers on occasion, and both 
