76 



and entire under surface ; in size the two agree. 

 From the closely allied Dark-red Firefinch (8) it differs 

 in having paler under tail-coverts and a vinous fore- 

 head. Though I have for years .... been on 

 the look out for this bird I have never yet owned a 

 specimen. It is therefore one b}^ no means easily 

 obtainable, but it may be imported more abundantly 

 later on, or on the other hand its rarity may continue, 

 as Von Heuglin only met with a few examples in . . 

 . . Central Africa — and that too in the rainy season — 

 haunting the bush near water. It has also been 

 observed on the Gold Coast, so that its range extends 

 over Western and Central Africa. Of its life-history 

 nothing is known, — most African travellers and 

 authors make little or no mention of it, — but Fraser 

 gives a good plate and Reichenbach also has an 

 illustration of the species. (9) 



In the Appendix the following additional information 

 about the Spotted Firefinch {L. rufopida) is given : 



In June, 1878, Fraulein C. Hagenbeck sent me 

 two cocks of this species for identification, and I will 

 now complete from the living birds the imperfect 

 description given above. 



The whole upper surface from hinder margin of 

 forehead to rump, including back and wings, is dark 

 ashy, almost greenish, and tinged with reddish on the 



(8) Lagottosiica ■)tibricata of South Africa, 



(9) The range and habits of this species are similar to those of the com- 

 mon Firefinch, but it does not come into the villages so much, preferring 

 the surrounding clearings, where it consorts with parties of the comoner 

 species. It is distinctly rare in the Gambia, (more so even than the Vina- 

 cious Firefinch), and I have never seen more than three together at a time. 

 Also out of the many thousands of small birds which I must have seen in the 

 cages of the bird-catchers during the last three years out here, there have 

 only been six individuals of this species. 



