Identifier: illustratedbooko00blak (find matches)
Title: The illustrated book of canaries and cage-birds, British and foreign
Year: 1878 (1870s)
Authors: Blakston, W. A Swaysland, W Wiener, August F
Subjects: Canaries Cage birds
Publisher: London New York : Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co.
Contributing Library: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library

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it is difficult to describe his beauty. The plumage is nearly uniform darkbrownish-grey on the back, light underneath, but the whole plumage is marked by wave-likedelicately-pencilled cross-lines of black. Just round the root of the beak is a little black,extending in a line towards and fonning a ring round the eye. The eye again has a distinctbare bluish-white ring round it, forming a most peculiar contrast to the black feathers sur-rounding it. At the root of the dark brown tail is a patch of brilliant scarlet feathers. A pair was exhibited in the Zoological Garden in 1870, and no earlier account existsof this Finch as a cage-bird. I have had many Fire-tailed Finches since then, but alwaysfound them die in the most unexpected and disappointing manner. One single bird out ofmany lived in my aviary for over a twelvemonth, but he was sent to a show on the Continentas a curiosity, and died there as unexpectedly as many newly-imported specimens had done. Cassells Canaries and Cage. Birds
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Vmccni Bv&olts DnyS Son Lili 1 CHESTNUT EARED FINCH OR AUSTRALIAN ZEBRA FINCH MALE. 3 AM A D U V A D E Fl NCH MALE.I DO -D° D° D° FEMALE. 3 D9 0° FEMALE Z.AFRICAN ZEBRA WAXBILL MALE.2 D 0° D<? FEMALE. 4. THREE COLOURED FINCH CR NUN Amaduvade Finch. 373 My own experience has been unfortunately shared by Dr. Russ, by Prinz Ferdinand, ofCoburg Gotha, and all other amateurs. The bird seems to require some kind of seed or foodwhich we have yet to discover, and without which he does not thrive in Europe as a cage-bird. I have heard that the Fire-tailed Finch is very shy when newly caught, and for thisreason is often brought over in dark cages. If this be true it may well be that the birdswhich died so unaccountably may have perished through sheer fright in consequence of theadmiration of their purchasers. One of the most intelligent London dealers, who frequentlyimported the Fire-tailed Finches, always placed them on the top shelves in his shop, outof reach of observation, and s

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