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.
[LATEST ISSUES]
BUFFALO BILL STORIES
The most original stories of Western adventure. The only weekly containing the adventures of the famous Buffalo Bill. High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.
415—Buffalo Bill's Cumbres Scouts; or, The Wild Pigs Corralled.
416—Buffalo Bill and the Man-wolf; or, The Mystery of the Adobe Castle.
417—Buffalo Bill and His Winged Pard; or, Indian Against Indian.
418—Buffalo Bill at Babylon Bar; or, The Mountain Pirates.
419—Buffalo Bill's Long Arm; or, The Game-cock of Shasta.
420—Buffalo Bill and Old Weasel-top; or, The Man From Nowhar.
421—Buffalo Bill's Steel Arm Pard; or, Old Weasel-top's Mission.
422—Buffalo Bill's Aztec Guide; or, The White Indian.
423—Buffalo Bill and Little Firefly; or, Playing with Death.
424—Buffalo Bill in the Aztec City; or, Little Firefly's Friendship.
425—Buffalo Bill's Balloon Escape; or, Out of the Grip of the Great Swamp.
426—Buffalo Bill and the Guerrillas; or, The Flower Girl of San Felipe.