. Birds I have kept in years gone by : with original anecdotes and full directions for keeping them successfully . aked seeds. The old birds are sometimes excellent feeders, and sometimeswiU not rear a single young one, deserting the nest whenthe nestlings are about a week old; when this happens theycan be brought up by hand. The Eibbon-Finch is a native of Africa, but neverthelessextremely hardy: I have not, however, tested its enduranceout of doors during the winter. CHAPTER LXIV. THE rSDIGO BrED. THIS bird and its congener, which forms the subject ofthe next chapter, are rather Buntings tha
. Birds I have kept in years gone by : with original anecdotes and full directions for keeping them successfully . aked seeds. The old birds are sometimes excellent feeders, and sometimeswiU not rear a single young one, deserting the nest whenthe nestlings are about a week old; when this happens theycan be brought up by hand. The Eibbon-Finch is a native of Africa, but neverthelessextremely hardy: I have not, however, tested its enduranceout of doors during the winter. CHAPTER LXIV. THE rSDIGO BrED. THIS bird and its congener, which forms the subject ofthe next chapter, are rather Buntings than true Finches,as any one who has tried keeping them on a Pinchs diet hassoon found out to his cost. The Indigo Bunting measures about five inches in length,and, during the summer, as may be gathered from its name, isof a deep indigo blue colour, which is more intense on thecrown of the head than on any other part of the birds body:but this bright attire he only wears for about the four warmestmonths of the year, after which he puts on an unpretendingbrownish grey suit, with a very slight and indistinct shade. T H r. r X D r I i I) n i ii d Tie Indigo Bird. 179 of blue running through it, especially on the head and breast. The female is always an insignificant looking little brownthing, quite unworthy, as regards appearance at all events,of being the wife of so richly clothed a mate. The Indigo Bunting is a native of North America, migratoryin the Northern States, and stationary in the Southern. Tromamong a number of scientific names that have been bestowedupon it, I select that of Emberi%a oyanea as, in my opinion,the most appropriate. Its French designation is h Ministre,but the Germans call it der Indigojmk. It is described byBechstein, who evidently knew but little of its habits andtrue character, for he dismisses it in a few lines with thefollowing recommendation as to diet: Its food is canary seed,millet, poppy seed, and bruised hemp seed, upon which itwill no doubt survi
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