134 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BULLETIN. [XX. 2, 36-4. 



24. Sporophila minuta Linn. Small Red-Bellied Finch. 



Leotaud No. 176. 



This Is, after the small black finch, the commonest grass bird in 

 the sugar cane districts of Trinidad, and It resembles this species in 

 nesting on the ground. 



Nests have been found on the following occasions. 



(1) On July 15, 1919 in grass of a pasture at Harmony Hall and 

 containing two eggs. 



(2) On August 12, 1919 in grass of a pasture at the Usine Sle. 

 Madeleine, containing one young. 



The nest is of the usual finch type, deep cup shaped and neatly 

 woven from grass. 



The egg is ovate, pale blue, almost white, evenly spotted and 

 speckled sepia. 



The food is chiefly if not entirely vegetable as the following 

 dissections show. 



(1) Shot among sugar cane at Carom on September 28, 1917 

 contained seeds only. 



(2) Shot among sugar cane at WlUiamsville on July 17, 1918 

 contained seeds only. 



25. Oryzoborus torridus. Scop. Large Red-Bellied Finch. 



Pltylus torridus. Leotaud No. 152. 



This large finch is not common but has been seen in January, 

 August and September. 



One shot at Harmony Hall on August 13, 1919 differed from 

 Leotaud's description in having the feet almost black, the belly 

 feathers grey at the base, and the white at the base of the secondary 

 wing feathers spread along the inner margin towards the apex. 



The nest has been found on only one occasion in a Hibiscus 

 hedge near Princes Town, on September 1 1, 1920 about six feet from 

 ground and containing two eggs. The nest is larger and rougher than 

 that of the Pico Plat. 



The eggs are pale bluish white with many red brown markings, 

 mor or less irregular all over the egg. 



