Review



175



to autumn in their native land. Out there they are common enough and cost

but a trifle, though I do not remember having seen them in England, and they

could only be rare in the sense that they are seldom imported, perhaps because

they are unattractive in coloration.


They are chubby, blunt-billed birds, of about the size and type, I think,

of the “ Cuba ” Finch : the female is of a dull olive grey throughout, without

markings, and the male generally of a dullish black, darker on the head, and

having a little black “ cravat ” bordered with white and then a broad band of

black across the breast, the rest of the under parts being light grey : he has

none of the greenish tinge of the female.


So far, they eat only canary seed—and flowering grass—exception made

of a ripe grape, which many Finches, even Canaries, I find get very fond of.


I might add that the friend who brought them over very kindly, by way

of a surprise, added two “ Superb ” Tanagers which arrived in nice condition,

and (to my chagrin) tried to bring besides from Brazil two Scarlet Tanagers

and two, different, Hang-nests, but he not being an “ expert ” the poor things

shared the fate of so many beautiful birds bought by passengers and put

on board without proper food supply and in the flimsy, open bamboo cages

which, in the tropics, seem adequate, on shore. Modern motor-ships too are

very “ cold ” down below, compared with the old steam vessels, when once

they pass the warm latitudes. I have told my friend “Never, never again !”

unless with an adequate travelling-cage, such as the Finches and “ Superbs ’ ’

occupied.


I will pass on your letter to the Editress of the Avicultural Magazine,

and thanking you again for the information you have given me, I am,


Yours faithfully,


H. C. Martin.


PS.—I may say that I found the Crested Finch at Gamage’s and could

not resist buying the last but one : I note that Palmer’s had some too, at about

the same time, so they will probably come again.



REVIEW


Birds of Canada. By P. A. Taverner. Published by John

Murray, Albermarle Street, London, W. 1. 18s. net.


This large handsome volume deals with all kinds of birds known

to occur in Canada, with the purpose of awakening and stimulating

interest in their study and to assist in identifying native species, and

certainly anyone who makes this book his companion can claim more

than a nodding acquaintance with them.



