300 P. B. Webb—Common or Bed-headed , and Tri-coloured


Therefore, it is not unreasonable to say that there are different

“ strains ” some of which are wild and some confiding. This is, I think,

proved by Mr. Teague’s experience and mine, which is that I have had

Blue-heads which would eat mealworms from my fingers. I spent no

time in achieving this; it was discovered by accident and was then

cultivated. I hope I have not dwelt too long on this point, but it may

be the means of encouraging some who have had the same experience

as Mr. Teague, to have another try which may lead to much more

successful results.


There is not so much to say about the Bed-headed birds. I have

never heard anyone make any complaint about their characters,

but to those who are fond of a bird which sits still and is therefore

easily studied closely, I say “ Beware ! ” The bird which at some time

has gained for itself (I cannot think why) the name of “ Common ”

Parrot Finch, is not the one for them. It is the most sprightly, vivacious

little bundle of feathers that it is possible to imagine. It is never still

for a single minute, and as twilight falls it is the last to settle down

in the whole aviary. Though I do not often see the sun rise myself, I

feel sure that this Parrot Finch invariably does. There is, however,

one great drawback which confronts those who wish to breed them,

and that is the great scarcity of hens. The reason for this must be

that the hens escape the catchers for some reason ; either they are more

wary or the birds are caught during the breeding season when hens are

sitting—probably the latter. It is not that the hens are more delicate

or are very subject to egg-binding, which is the curse of Grass Finches

in general. My experience has been that the cocks are not so tough

as the hens, and I have never yet had a hen egg-bound. I have usually

managed to get my birds to nest in their shed, which helps, and usually

Grass Finches insist on nesting in a bush out in the flight where it is

cooler.


I think that on the whole most people will agree with me that

the Bed-head is the better bird of the two, though both are well worth

having and are easy to keep, but neither should be allowed out during

the winter months—in the north of Ireland at any rate.


When I take a fancy to a bird I have not kept before, the first thing

I try to find out is, “ How have these birds been successfully fed in



