Foreign Finches in Captivity.
I have proved tliat the Saffron Pinch may easily be bred in a large
box-cage (about three feet long b}- two high and two deep), provided that a
good-sized deep box is fixed np in one corner, and plenty of hay, moss, and
feathers supplied. The favourite nesting-box of this, and of most Finches, is one
known as of the cigar-box pattern; in fact, for the smaller species, a full-sized
cigar-box, with half the lid sawn off and the other half nailed down, or, better
still, with onlj^ one-third removed, makes a very good cradle for the construction
of a nest. The box must be hung up perpendicularly, -with the opening in front;
and it is a good plan to half fill the lower, or enclosed portion, with hay.
Mr. Abrahams strongly recommends his woven basket-uests, which certainly
have a neater appearance in an aviary than the oblong wooden boxes described
above; moreover, birds are very fond of roosting and even laying in them; but,
personall}^, I was never successful in obtaining any young ones from these nests,
though it is quite possible that, in this respect, I may be an exception to the
general rule.
I n its jiative countr}- the Saffron Finch, and some of the other species of
its genus, build their nests in hollows in decayed trees, or the deserted nests of
other birds ; but, in the neighbourhood of towns, they construct large nests lined
w t h horse-hair, in holes in walls. Their eggs are usually five iu number, greenish
white, spotted more or less thicldy with sharply-defined blackish olive and pale
lavender spots. In form these eggs are smaller and rounder than those of our
Spari-ow.
Though the genus Syealis is placed next to Serimis in the most recent classification,
the Saffron Finch, if associated in very small aviaries with Canaries, makes
himself unbearable to them, driving them about and pulling out their feathers
wholesale; in a spacious aviary, however, he never molests them; indeed, excepti
n g when breeding, and then only when interfered with, or attacked; he seems
tolerably amiable. He should not however be associated with Ornamental Finches.
I n 1893, I received a near relative of the Saffron Finch from the Ar-gentine
Republic, viz., Syealis pekelni. This species is very like the common one, but
smaller, its under parts entirel}^ yellow, with blackish streaks on the flanks: the
two species have precisely similar habits in the aviary, and the same untiring
energy in singing their scroopy. Corn-Bunting-like song. In one respect, indeed,
it does not resemble the song of that most unmusical performer, for it seems to
have no full stop in it, but goes on until the vocalist is weary, and starts again
as soon as he has rested.
This song is thus graphically described by Mr. W. H. Hudson, in Selater
The Saffron Fineh. 23
and Hudson's Argentine Ormtkology, p. 6 6 : - " After a hurried prelude of sharp
chirps and trills, he pours out a continuous stream of sound, composed of innumerable
brief notes, high and shrill as those of a bat, wounding the ear with their
excessive sharpness, and emitted so rapidly that the whole song is more like that
of a cicada than of a bird. The piercing torrent of sound is broken at intervals'
by a low, grave note, or half-a-dozen sharp rapid notes in a lower key, which come
as an agreeable relief."
Canary-seed, white millet, millet in the ear, fresh groundsel, and insects, are
suitable food for Saffron Finches in captivity; when breeding, a mixture of
Abraham's food with mashed potato and bread-crumbs will be gratefully accepted.
In the winter green food should not be given, as it is then often frost-bitten
and half decayed, though lettuce or rape seedlings, grown in boxes in a greenhouse,
would not be injurious.
I think it is a pity that Selater and Hudson have adopted the local name of
"Yellow House Sparrow" for 5. pehelm, because it gives a false idea of the
afEnities of the species. Hudson evidently does not approve of the name, though
he uses it, for he says "The Yellow 'Flouse-Sparrow' as this species is called, is
the town-bird of Buenos Ayres, but does not multiply greatly, nor is he familiar
with man, like his rough, sooty-plumaged, far-away London relation."
The following very interesting account of the species from Mr. Fludson's pen
• is worth cpioting here:—"In towns they build in walls, like the English Sparrow;
in country places they always select the domed nest of some Dendrocolaptine*
species to breed in. Possibly in some districts where I have not been, this Sparrow
selects other breeding sites; my expei-ience is that outside of a town it never lays
anywhere but in some domed nest, and at home I frequently put up boxes for
them in the trees, but they would not notice them, though the Wrens and Swallows
were glad to have them. Sometimes they make choice of the large fabric of the
Antimbins aeutieaiidatiis, called Lenaters in the vernacular; but their claim to this
nest (even when the Leñateros are out of it) is frequently disputed by other species
which possess the same habit as this Sparrow, but are more powerful than he.
Their favourite breeding-place is, however, the solid earthen structure of the Ovenbird;
and it is wonderful to see how persistantly and systematicallj' they labour to
drive out the lawful owners—birds so much larger and more powerful than themselves.
Early in Spring, and before the advent of the Tree-Martins, the pair of
Sparrows begin haunting the neighbourhood of the oven they have elected to take
possession of, usually one pretty high up in a tree. As the season advances their
*Birds having liabits similar to the Tree-Creepjirf. O. II.