T , ^ r ^ ii Í
72 Forcio'n Finches in Capf'wiiy.
of Yellow-billed Cardinals, wliicli about that time were imported now and then,
but have lately disappeared again from the market." It is probable, however, that
they never were sent to Europe in great numbers. Being rarer and more local
than the Red-crested Cardinal, P. capitata may also be less attractive to the birdcatchers,
owing to the absence of a crest to its brighter red head, and to the black
instead of red throat ; although to the eye of one trained to admire harmonious
combinations of colour, the juxtaposition of carmine, black and snow-white are
extreme!}' beautiful. Scientific writers speak of the crest of this species, and even
represent it with the red feathering raised above the nape ; but, in life, this lies
perfectly flat and cannot be erected at will.
In his notes to the " Argentine Oniithology" I\Ir. Hudson gives no facts,
from personal observation, respecting this bird; having, in all probabilit}-, not met
with it; he merely quotes the following from Dr. Bnnneister:—" This species is
not uncommon near Paraná, where it occurs iu small flocks on the river-bank, and
is often seen on the stones at the river's edge."
Mr. E. W. AVhite seems never to have met with P. capitala in a wild state,
for he says :—" The exact locality of this species is unknown to me, as I obtained
it alive from a bird-fancier in Buenos A3-res; but most probably it came from some
part of the province of Corrientes."
In his "Handbook" Dr. Russ merely mentions the fact that this species is
occasionally imported, and says that "its price is very high—about 60 marks
(nearly the pair." In London it would probabh* be decidedl}- higher, but it
is hardly ever imported.
The Yellow-billed Cardinal when associated ^"i'ith P. ciicuHata has a wholesome
respect for his Red-crested cousin and usually keeps out of his way ; but the sight
of a mealworm temporarih* dispels his fears, and he dashes down and seizes it
the moment it is offered; but a second one he discreeth' permits P. cucullata to
take possession of; he clearlj' comprehends the difference between maim and timm.
In his '' Frímdlándischcit Stubcnvdgcl" Dr. Russ, quoting from Burmeister,
saj's "that the egg is white, dotted with grey-brown." From my short experience
of this ver)- handsome little Cardinal, I should judge it to be less delicate than
P. iiicullata; it is certainly tamer and more gentle, nor do I think that it would
prove ver}- aggressi^'e in an aviarv with birds of nearly its own size.
M}' bird w-ould frequently fly do\i-n from his perch and take a mealworm from
my fingers; but not when strangers were present: he was vei'y fond of hanging
upon the wire front of his cage near the roof, by which means he was able to
get a good view of a large flight cage containing five examples of P. cucidlata (the
Red-crested Cardinal). At times, but especially when the sun was shining, he
would sing as he cluug to the wire netting: he is decidedly the prettiest of all
the Cardinals and ought to be more freely imported; but his rarity as a cage-bird
even in South America, seems to show that very few specimens are obtained by
the native bird-catchers. It is a marvel to me that captains of ships regularly
trading between Buenos Ayres and Liverpool, do not make a point of ransacking
the market, each time that they visit the former town, and picking up the individual
examples of this and other rare species which must, from time to time, be offered
for sale. It would require no great strain, even upon a very weak intellect, to
remember which the valuable species were, and it would certainly be a very fair
investment for a little idle capital. Most sailors are by no means stupid, indeed
their very profession requires them to be wide-awake and intelligent, and the
masters of Merchant-ships are as a class well-educated and shrewd; to these it
would be easy enough to learn the characteristics of the rarer birds of the Buenos
Ayres market in a few minutes and the information could readily be obtained from
any experienced lover of foreign birds.
The illustration is taken from a lovely example of the cock, lately living
in the author's collection. The bird died on the 26th February, 1894; thus the
details were completed from the skin.
ti
'iii^.
I i Í
M. , 'l! 1;:: liii
i'! ,
» >•
111
'li
. \