412 H. V. Fighman— The Star or Rufous-tailed Finch


more than any one in the extermination. He seemed to think it far

better to have a series of perishable skins in museums than to leave

a few living birds to perpetuate themselves for posterity.


The last living bird was seen in 1907 and since then there have

been various reports from non-scientific observers with regard to

seeing it. Expeditions have been out in search of it into all the remote

parts where it was formerly found, but have failed to trace it. In my

opinion there is as much chance of seeing the Huia again as there is

of seeing the Moa.


It was frequently kept in captivity in New Zealand in the old days

and several were sent to the London Zoological gardens, but they do

not seem to have lived for any great length of time. As with many

other things in life a great deal of fuss has been made over the Huia

now that it has gone. If a little of the energy now expended on trying

to trace it had been used in the first place in securing one or two pairs

for the island sanctuaries we might still have had this singular bird

alive to-day.


(To be continued.)



THE STAR OR RUFOUS-TAILED FINCH


(Bathilda ruficauda)


By H. Y. Highman, R.A.O.U., (Hon. Secretary, Avicultural

Society of Western Australia)


This Finch, in Western Australia, is not looked upon as being hardy,

and local experience proves it second to the Gouldian for delicateness.

Most of our Finches breed in the winter, and consequent egg-binding

is so often the result.


This Finch is no doubt well known to aviculturists, making a

description of plumage and sexes unnecessary.


I placed a pair of newly-caught birds among my mixed collection

in an outdoor aviary 20 X 10 X 8 feet high. They had access to

canary, millett, panicum, hemp, linseed, rape, the usual greens, and

soft food. This pair proved extremely active, and inside one month

the cock was observed with a piece of grass in his mouth executing



