THE SLATY-GREY FINCH [Spermophila analis). When writing 



up this genus (vide Vol. VI.) I had never seen a living specimen, but about 

 two months ago our esteemed members, Messrs. Suggitt and Sutcliffe, jointly 

 imported a number of vSouth American birds; some are jet unidentified, but 

 among them are specimens of i". analis and S. lineata, both of which are 

 new to me as living birds. This species, though possessing a formidable 

 bill, pale yellow in colour, is a handsome bird; its principle hues are slatv- 

 grey of various shades, very pleasingly blended ; it is larger and more 

 robustly built than the majority of the Spermophilcr. they are not easv to 

 tame in a cage; but from their demeanour under these conditions, this 

 would not be so apparent in the aviary, as they only flutter wildly when 

 their cage is closely approached. So far they have only taken seed, a little 

 banana and green food — soft food and mealworms they despise. Unfor- 

 tunately this consignment came to hand during the spell of raw cold 

 weather which occurred in mid-autumn — they were on arrival in the midst 

 of the change from nestling to adult plumage, and most of them got a chill, 

 feather production was checked and in consequence the mortality has been 

 very high. From the experience gained from these birds it is evident that 

 some species of Speniwphi/a need very careful hardening off, and I do not 

 consider they should be left out of doors during their first winter in this 

 country. I do not care at this juncture to revise the description in Vol. VI. 

 which was from dried skins, but shall wait to do so till I am sure my 

 specimens are fully adult. As I cannot trace any popular name for this 

 species I have named it as above. 



THE LINEATED FINCH {Spermophila lineata). This species was 

 named Radiated Grosbeak by Lathoin, it is an inhabitant of British Guiana 

 and Amazonia ; this also I described form skins in Vol. VI. and do not care 

 to revise at present. There are evidently several changes between the nest- 

 ling and adult plumage, judging both from the living specimens now to 

 hand and also the series of skins, at the British Museum. This is a smaller 

 and slightly more slender bird than analis, but nevertheless recognisable as 

 a Grosbeak at sight. It is also a handsome and pleasingly marked bird, 

 with its arrangement of olive green, brown, black and white; it appeared to 

 me to be the most confiding of the species, now I believe being introduced 

 to aviculture for the first time. I shall defer further comment till I have 

 had them under observation out of doors in the spring. 



RED-THROATED BLUE TANAGER (Tanagra rujkollis). A 

 very fine specimen in exquisite condition was exhibited by Mr. Maxwell at 

 the recent L.C.B.A. Show. The adult male is of a dull blue, with a deep 

 rufous throat. The female is very dissimiliar to the male being olive brown 

 above, head and neck greenish-grey, under surface ashy grey merging into 

 whitish on the abdomen. It is also known as the Orange Quit, and 



