166



P. B. Webb—Cuban Finches



yet another brood is rapidly growing in the nest, is one which must

be experienced to be appreciated, and who knows but that it might

persuade Lord Buckmaster to join our Society ?



CUBAN FINCHES


(Phonipara canora )


By P. B. Webb


The Cuban Finch is too well enough known to aviculturalists of

this country, from pictures at any rate, to need any description as to

appearance. It is not to be found, however, in as many aviaries as it

deserves. The reason for this is probably that it is not by any means

a common bird. It can be purchased when it appears on the market

for from 20s. to 40s. a pair, the former price being rather below the

average for newly imported specimens. It is often hard to establish

when newly imported, but later it becomes hardy. Anyone who has

not already kept some of these birds will find that they are among the

most interesting of the smaller Finches. They are ever on the move

and have always a busy disposition as they hop and flit about. They

continually twitter, which has, I suppose, given them their exaggerated

name of <£ Melodious ” Finch. Their song—if their few notes may be

thus termed—is anything but “ melodious It is certainly rather

pleasing, more from the fact that it gives one the idea that they consider

life worth living, and mean to tell you so, than from a musical point

of view. While one is explaining this to you his body is being oscillated

from side to side, which is also rather quaint. True pairs are very fond

of each other and are continually close together. They usually build

a nest fairly soon, and if the hen does not lay in it at once it will be

used by both as sleeping quarters. It is usual for a pair to start family

operations soon and they lay from two to four eggs. Some hens are

never to be caught on the nest ; they seem to be off at the sound of

a step many yards away, yet the chicks hatch in the normal time.

Others sit very closely indeed and as the nest is of domed type it is

very hard to ascertain if all is well. As these birds are seldom troubled



