104



S. Porter—A West Indian Diary



to show itself and only when one is almost treading on it does it rise

out of the low herbage.


In its habit, size, and general demeanour it resembles a Waxbill,

its nest too resembles that made by those birds—-an untidy structure

of loosely thrown together stems of fine grass, etc., with an opening

at one side.


This bird being terrestrial in habit, the legs and feet soon get

deformed and scaly if kept in captivity in an ordinary cage and

denied the use of soil to move about on. I bought three pairs of these

birds, but on arriving on the ship I found one dead though apparently

in perfect condition. Later, one escaped, and I am afraid was caught

by the ship’s cat. I found them extremely pugnacious and it was

impossible to keep more than one pair together, the birds fighting

and nearly plucking each other bare. The two pairs I have in my

bird-room. They are not very interesting, but I am hoping that they

breed next year when put into an outside avairy.


The Olive Finch (Tiaris olivacea ).—This is another familiar cage-

bird whose acquaintance I made for the first time at liberty. In

certain parts of Jamaica it is even commoner that its congener, the

Black-faced Grass Finch, a bird to which it is closely related, but

as though conscious of its greater beauty it is far more conspicuous

than the latter bird, neither does it frequent the environs of towns

as much as the other bird, being found more around the homesteads

in the country and by the sides of roads and lanes outside the villages

in the interior of the island. Its song, while being of the cricket quality

of the other bird, is easily recognizable.


The Olive Finch is also sociable and is found in small flocks or

family parties. When disturbed they take refuge in the nearest clump

of weeds and seldom fly far away. The nest is a bulky, roughly made

structure, domed and with the entrance at one side.


The Yellow-backed Finch (Sycalis flaveola ).—This beautiful

little Finch, which at first sight resembles a Siskin, is apparently not

common and I only saw but few examples. I saw one pair at West-

woods, the school already referred to. Here the bird had built a large

and untidy nest in an orange tree, but it was placed in such a position

that it was rendered very inconspicuous to the casual observer.



