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28 Foreign Finches in Captivity.
tliroiigliout tlie colony, congregating in flocks on the open and plonghed lands, and
feeding" on grain and seeds of all kinds. It sings very sweetty, and breeds in
captivity with the true Canary, the mule birds being very handsome, and, we are
told, again producing with either the yellow bird or one of its own species."
" T h e nest of the Cape Canary is generally constructed in a low, thick bush,
and is of a cup-shape, formed of hair, moss, and feathers. The eggs, three to four
in number, are white, streaked and spotted at the obtuse end with purplish brown;
axis, 9"'; diam. Mr. Rickard records it from East London and Port
Elizabeth, being most plentiful at the latter place; and Messrs. Butler, Fielden,
and Reid record it as common both in -svinter and summer in Natal, breeding in
October and November."
Dr. Russ says that the Cape Canary has hitherto fi.c. up to 1887) not been
bred in confinement; but that Dr. Frauken bred mules between it and the hen of the
Yellow-fronted Siskin (St. Helena Seed-eatei"), and Dr. Frenzel with a Canary hen.
He thinks it is to be regretted that this pretty and graceful "Siskin" is hard to obtain
(which seems a curious regret to a Londoner, who can generally buy it, if he is
willing to paj' the required price); that mentioned by Russ, "13-15 marks for a
pair," seems low enough. The song, he says, is pleasant. Lark-like, and diligently
perservrered in.
In confinement, Cauarj'-seed, white millet, spray-millet, and, in the summer
time green-food, are suitable for the Cape Canary. If an attempt is made to breed
with a pair, a bush of some kind, plenty of soft building materials, and some form
of egg-food should be provided.
In his larger work. Dr. Russ gives, practically, no additional information
respecting this species; he again laments its rarity in the market, and tells ns that
many travellers are unanimous in saying that in the South African colonies this
bird is frequently kept in cages as being an admirable singer.
T H E SULPHUR-COLOURED SEED-EATER.
Seriniis Sulphuratus, LINN.
THIS species has been imported by Mr. Abrahams, but is less frequently received
than the Cape Canary: it is said to sing well. The cock-bird above is of a
yellowish-green colour, becoming more yellow on the lower back, which is also
unmarked, whereas the shoulders and front of the dorsal region are streaked with
blackish; the lesser wing-coverts yellomsh-green, immarked; median and greater
coverts, flights, and tail-feathers, blackish bordered with yellow; upper tail-coverts
dull yellow, with dusky shaft-streaks; lores dusky, surmounted by a broad golden
yellow eyebrow; feathers round eye and ear-coverts dull greenish, succeeded by a
broad golden yellow band; cheeks dull greenish, with a yellow spot at the base of
the lower mandible; throat golden yellow; the sides and front of neck and the breast
pale yellowish green, which colour also extends along the sides of the body; lower
breast and abdomen golden yellow; under wing-coverts and axillaries A'ellow; flights
below dusky with greyish inner edges. Length six inches, beak yellow, the trpper
mandible dusky, legs dusky, iris dull hazel. The hen is slightly duller than the
cock, with less-defined yellow streak on the face.
S. sulphiiratus inhabits South Africa, from the Cape through Natal and the
Transvaal to the Masai country in East Africa. According to Ayres this bird is
tolerably common at Natal, and feeds upon the hard nutty seeds of small berries,
common to many of the shrubs there; they appear to crack the shells of these
seeds with ease and then devour the kernel.
" I t is apparently iiot uncommon in the Swellendam district, extending as far
westward as Caledon. It is also plentiful at Nel's Poort, where we took the eggs
in some abundance."
" T h e nest is usually placed in a low bush, often only a few inches from the
ground; it is very compact and cup-shaped; the eggs generally four in number,
are white, slightly tinged with green, and dotted at the obtuse end, mostly in an
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