RARE CAGE BIRDS.

Lovers of cage birds have hitherto confined their attention chiefly to the canary, the parrot, and the mocking bird. Now, however, there is a tendency to acquire rare varieties and dealers are preparing to meet this novel demand.

The bulbul is among the feathered pets now in demand in this country. "A few bulbuls have been hitherto brought from India," said a bird dealer. "These have not included, however, the bulbul of Persia, the Oriental counterpart of the European nightingale, but gifted with a richer, sweeter, and more plaintive song."

The hill minas of India sometimes eclipse parrots in their lingual abilities, yet very few have been imported into the United States. They now retail at $17 apiece. Japanese robins, sometimes called Pekin nightingales by English aviculturists, are peculiarly colored—dark and greenish, with distinctive yellow and orange on breast, bill, and wings. They are easy to keep, possess a sweet and musical song, and have a song period lasting ten months.

The skill of Japanese breeders is also shown in several varieties of cage birds that are coming into notice in this country. A pure white variety and a buff-and-white variety of one species—the Japanese nun, also known as bengelee or mannikin—bear testimony to the assiduity of the Japanese fanciers. Nuns are small birds of different species, such as the black-headed and tri-colored nuns, the spice bird or chestnut finch, and others. Most of them have more or less dark brown in the coloring.

Cage birds from Africa are notable for beauty of plumage rather than song. The African weaver, in addition to attractive coloring, offers a striking exhibition of his skill in the art that has given him his name. At nesting time, if furnished with worsted or other suitable material, the birds will weave this in and out of the wires of their cage, making neat and compact examples of their handiwork. Bishops and Madagascar weavers are brilliant red and black in coloring, cutthroats have a band of red across the throat from which is derived the name, and whidah birds (sometimes but incorrectly called widow birds) have extremely long tails.

Waxbills form a family of African cage birds which are just beginning to attract fashionable notice. These include the dainty little cordon bleu, or crimson-eared waxbill, various species of silverbills, and several other kinds. The violet-eared waxbill, a bird of radiant prismatic beauty, though for some years past popular in Europe, has just been brought to this country. Edelsingers, or African gray singers, are an African species with a pleasing song.

Lady goldfinches from Australia have hitherto been extremely rare in this country, although they are said to reach the highest point of beauty and elegance attained by any of the smaller cage birds of the world. These birds tame readily, are not pugnacious with cage mates, and exhibit many individualities of disposition. Among their accomplishments is an interesting and graceful little dance.