FRINGILLIDiE. 191 



unable to fly against the wind, and in rainy weather can hardly be got 

 to more out of the thick bushes in which, Knowing their helplessness, 

 they conceal themselves. The Eafir children stretch bird-limed lines 

 across the fields of millet and Kafir corn, and snare great numbers 

 of the males by their tails becoming entangled in the lines. I am 

 informed they breed among rushes and reeds, like Ploceus Oryx. 



The Sub-Family, COCCOTHRAUSTIN-S!, or 

 Hawfinches, 



have the bill large, short, strong, conic, and very broad at 

 the base ; the culmen and gonys more or less equally curved 

 at the tip ; the lateral margins more or less angulated at 

 their base ; the wings lengthened, and more or less pointed ; 

 the tail generally short ; the tarsi as long as, or shorter than, 

 the middle toe, robust, and strongly scaled, and the hind toe 

 as long as, or rather shorter than, the inner one, and strong. 



Genus PYRENESTES, Swainson. 

 Bill enormous, perfectly conic ; the two mandibles equal, 

 or the lower somewhat thicker; upper mandible with an 

 obsolete tooth at its base ; tip entire ; commissure straight ; 

 wings and tail rounded, first quill very small, spurious. 



380. Pyrenestes Frontalis; Zooi. S.A., Pi.ei, 



62 ; Fyrrhula Albifrons, Vigors. 

 General colour, orange- coloured brown, with the feathers 

 on each side of the upper mandible white, and a speculum of 

 the same colour on the wings, formed by all the quill- feathers 

 being white at their base. Length, 7" 4'" ; wing, 3" 9'" ; 

 tail, 3". 



Inhabits the forests on the Eastern frontier and Natal, feeding upon 

 berries and small fruits. — Dr. A. Smith, loc. cit. 



The Sub-Family, PRINGILLIN^aE, or Pinches, 



have the bill short, conic, and more or less broad at the base, 

 with the culmen sloping, and the sides compressed to the 

 tip, which is generally entire ; the gonys long, and advanc- 

 ing upwards ; the wings more or less lengthened, and 

 pointed ; the tail varying in length, sometimes with the ends 

 of the feathers acuminated ; the tarsi as long as, or shorter 

 than, the middle toe, slender, and transversely scaled ; the 

 toes more or less long and slender ; the hind toe moderate ; 

 the claws generally long, curved, and acute. 



Genus ESTRELDA, Swainson. 

 Bill small, moderate ; tail lengthened, graduated, or 

 rounded ; feet moderate ; tarsus longer than hind toe. 



