THE FtNCHKS AND VVEAVEIt BIRDS OF THE SUDAN 159 



Tlie FringUliuie are typical Finches, in which, unlike the Buntings, the cutting edges of the 

 mandibles fit closely together when the bill is closed, and the pronounced angle on 

 the under edge of the lower mandible, characteristic of that sub-family, is absent 

 or slight. The very destructive Sparrows come in this grou]). The Finches of this 

 sub-family make open nests, with the exception of the Sparrows, which build domed 

 ones. The eggs are generally speckled. 



1. Sub-family: Einhprizliuv Sub-family: 



hmberizirit^ 



The African Buntings are divided into two genera : — 

 BDihei-iza (Typical Buntings). In these there is a white pattern on the outer tail feathers. 

 Frimjillaria (Eock Buntings), in which there is no white on the outer tail feathers. 



Sub-fanuly : 



2. Sub-family : b\-iii<j'dlin:\i 



This is a larger section, and in the Sudan tlie following genera must be recognised : - 



linjthros^iza, (Desert Trumpeter Bullfinches). Small red-billed birds, with a rosy-pink 

 tinge in the plumage, brightest on wings and tail. 

 The birds in the following genera have no red in the plumage. 



SiM'inm (Serin Finches). Small finches with a short bill, much swollen at the base, the 

 upper mandible about as deep as the lower. Plumage, in the Sudan species, yellow 

 and green, or grey with a white rump. 



Poliospiza (Seed-eaters). In these the bill is moderately long, with the upper mandible 

 deeper than the lower. The nostrils are covered with plumes. The top of the head 

 is streaked with whitish. 



Passer (Sparrows). The bill is moderately long, with the upper mandible deeper than the 

 lower, and the nostrils covered by plumes. The wings are of moderate length, falling 

 short of the end of the tail by more than the length of the tarsus (the bare shank 

 of the leg). The first wing feather is small and narrow, the next three longest and 

 nearly equal in length. The upper plumage is often partly chestnut-brown. A black 

 throat patch characterises the males of several species. The crown of the head is 

 always uniform in colour, and not streaked, as in the Seed-eaters, which the Sparrows 

 somewhat closely resemble. 



Petronia (Rock Sparrows). These are very similar to the Sparrows of the genus Passer, 

 but in proportion to their size, have a much longer wing, which falls short of the 

 end of the tail by less than the length of the tarsus. The nostrils are exposed, and 

 not covered by plumes. A small patch of yellow on the throat is characteristic of 

 the genus. 



Family 11. I'Joceidiv Family 1 1. 



This, the Weaver Bird family, is divided into three groups or sub-families : 



1. Vuliiimu, containing the Indigo Finches, the Whydahs or Widow Finches, the Bishop 

 Birds, and the Dioches. 



2. Estrildinie, the Cut-throat Finches, Sociable Weavers, Silverbills, Manikins, Waxliills, 

 Fire-finches, and Pytelias. 



3. Ploceiine (the typical Weaver Birds), containing the Grosbeak Weavers, White- 

 headed Weavers, Buffalo W^eavers, Weaver Sparrows, Anaplectes, Spectacled 

 Weavers, Slender-billed Weavers, Masked Weavers, and Golden Weavers. 



