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243 J^oreign Finches in Captivity.
Mr. Gould observes:—"I had not the good fortune to meet with this bird in a
state of nature, but I have been informed that it frequents reed-beds bordering the
banks of rivers and lagoons of the eastern coast, and that it much resembles the
Bearded Tit fCola7;iophHiis biar/niausj of Europe, in the alertness with which it passes
up aud down the upright stems of reeds, from the lower part to the verj' top, a habit
for which the leuglheued and curved form of the claws seems well adapted."
Mr. North writes ;—" This species is widely distributed over the ^^•hole of the
northern parts of New South Wales and Queensland. It breeds plentifully iu the
extensive grass beds of the Clarence and Richmond river districts, also at Maryborough,
Queensland. The nest is a large structure, in shape like a flask or bottle on its side,
and the entrance, which is about an inch and a half wide, is situated at the end of a
long neck, the whole being about fourteen inches in length b}' six inches iu diameter
iu its widest part. It is usualljf built near the top of some bushy shrub, or in tangled
masses of vines, and composed of grasses and the leaves of reeds, with fine stems of
plants {Gardenia or Lobelia according to the district its owner freqtients), being lined
with finer materials—the downj' tops of reeds and flags, and occasionally a few feathers.
It closely resembles the nest of Akodnnia phaefon, -which I have received from Port
Denison, and like that is often found placed among the stiff leaves of a grass-like plant
growing upon the sides of the trees in and about the edges of the scrubs. The eggs
are four or five in number, of a dead limy-white colour."
I purchased a beautiful pair of this very pretty Mannikin from Mr. Abrahams on
April and, 1894. The difference in the streaking on the crown of the head was welldefined
in the sexes, the streaks being much better marked in the male bird, whilst in
the female the chestnut breast-band was paler.
The song of this Mannikin is rather melancholy' and weak in tone, but easily
audible ; it commences thus :—" Whit, whit, whit, whit" each utterance quite distinct,
but all alike; then—" Wee-wee-ivce-wee-ivee-ivce-wee-ivee,—hveeo, twec-ur]" in fact it bears a
distant resemblance to that of the Java Sparrow, rather than to the other more typical
Muuias.
I was unfortunate with my hen ; which, shortl}' after I purchased my pair,
developed disease of the brain, entirely preventing her flying, causing her also to move
in a circle and fall over when excited. Though otherwise perfectly well, she was now
worse than useless, for I had to put her to bed every night in the nest-box : how she
got back to the floor of the cage in the morning I cannot say; she must, I think, have
tumbled out anyhow and flapped her wings to ensure a soft fall; eventually she died,
aud I turned her husband loose in my outer aviarj'.
On the 6th July a friend imported a few of these birds from Australia and I
The Chestnut-hreasted Finch. 243
purchased fronr him three cocks and two hens, one of the latter I turned out with the
widower, the others I transferred to a large breeding-cage. As these were all young
birds, however, there was no immediate prospect of breeding with them.
Dr. Russ says :—"Unt il a few years ago the Reed-finch (German trivial name)
was very rare in the trade, and it has only been introduced into the Zoological Garden
of London, or to Europe generally since the year i860. At present, it is one of the
commonest forms seen in the trade, can be obtained every year, though never in
considerable numbers. Like several other Australians it proves so delicate immediately
after its arrival that the greater uumber die. Since, however, the remainder have
excellent health for years, it is evident that these, as also almost all birds as a rule, are
badly looked after during the long passage, and almost invariably arrive in a sickly
conditipn. Moreover many Reed-Amadines suddenly go wrong even after a long time
and in spite of the fact that they are apparently cpiite healthy. The cause of death
then is invariably fatty degeneration of the liver.
" The ventriloquial long-drawn song is delivered with great zeal and terminates in
a loud high tih ! * A pair belonging to Mr. Linden, of Radolfzell, nested wdth good
results ; mine, on the contrary, allowed several years to pass fruitlessly, when at length
two pairs simultaneously formed a careless nest, in a Hartz cage and a pasteboard box,
of coarse nesting materials, stalks, sea-weed, fibres, dried chickweed and lined with
feathers. The young died before changing their colour."
In my opinion the delicacy of these and other imported Finches is principally due
to overcrowding during transport : when a cage, such as is usually provided for the
accommodation of some fifty birds, is tenanted by less than half that number, the
losses are comparatively trifling and the birds arrive in good health ; but the sailors
who usually import them, rarely learn by experience that overcrowdiug is as bad for
these little creatures as for human beings. The consignment from which I obtained
my five examples was a very small one, and all of them as I write are in perfect health
and plumage ; in fact they are by far the most beautiful representatives of the species
that I have ever seen : they agree well with Gouldian Finches and pair with them
readily.
Illustration from living examples in the author's collection.
* As I write T po.ssess four inales and UireEi fciiuile.s ; consequently I often hear the son.i^, tmt I never heard thi.s
termination.
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