Correspondence.


CORRESPONDENCE.



115



NAMING BRAZILIAN BIRDS.


Sir, —Would you kindly let me know the trivial names of the

following Brazilian birds:—


No. 1. Much same size and shape as a Gouldian, head, back, wings,

and tail jet black ; chin, streak from bill to back of head, moustachial

streaks and under part pale greenish white, some coloured spots on

wings, black collar dividing white on chin and breast ; bill, dark leaden

nearly black, feet and legs grey. Local name “ Papacapim,’’ has a peculiar

habit of spreading its tail fan like, and a very fine singer.


No. 2. Whole of upper parts, wings, tail, and head very dark green,

under parts greenish white, bill and feet leaden. ” Begordi.”


No. 3. Very delicate medium grey with a white chin, tail and

primaries dark grey ; bill, dark horn ; feet and legs light brown.

“ Patetiva.”


No. 4. All upper parts, wings, and tail glossy black, breast and under-

parts rich dark chestnut ; bill horn, nearly black and much higher than

wide, in fact conical from side view ; feet and legs brown. “ Courial.” I often

think that Brazilian birds are very little known to aviculturists, and although

the majority of the seed-eaters are rather quietly coloured, many are very

fine singers and very graceful and pretty.


II. C. Hesei/i'ON.


The following reply zoos sent :


I make out Papacapim to be the Lined Finch (Spennophihi lineola).

Patetiva-the Plumbeous Finch ( Spermophila plumbed) ; Courial I cannot

discover. If it had a chestnut or cinnamon rump, it might possibly do for

.S', nigrorufa, but your illustration does not show this character. Begordi is

the Guttural Finch (.S', gntturalis).


A. G. Butt.kr.



“THE HOODKD SISKIN.”


Sir, —In the December number of the Avicultnral Magazine , just

received, I recognise with pleasure an old friend of mine, on the front

page.


The Hooded Siskin is indeed a very beautiful and most charming

little bird, but I met it only once in London, and then kept it for some

considerable time. I found that it was so very rare that I did not include it

in the list of foreign cage birds.


When I obtained the only specimen I ever saw, I found much

difficulty to name the bird twenty-five years ago.


I11 the list of Vertebrated Animals in the Gardens of the Zoological

Society of London, published in 1877, I find this bird named Chrysomitris



