HYPOCHERA ULTRAMARINA. 457 
whitish ; rump, flanks, and thighs black banded with white; abdo- 
men and under-wing coverts white ; bill bluish-white; feet black. 
Total length, 3” 4/’’ ; bill, 4’’"; wing, 1’ 9’; tarsus, 5’’’ (Hartl. 
and Finsch). 
Fig. Bianc. Spec. Zool. Mozamb, Fasc. xviii., taf. iv., fig. 1. 
A444, Ortyaosprza potyzona (Temm.) Little barred-breasted Finch. 
A large series of this little Finch was collected by Mr. 'T’. C. 
Atmore at Eland’s Post, and we have received it from Colesberg 
from Mr. Ortlepp. Mr. T. Atmore says that “it is very common on 
the flats in the Free State, and small as it is, its scent is so strong 
that pointers will stand to them. In rising they utter a sharp chirrup, 
and then fall suddenly to the ground.” Mr. Ayres has procured it 
in Natal, and Mr. Frank Oates shot two out of a flock in the desolate 
country near Newcastle, in June, 1873 ; Mr. Ayres has likewise met 
with it in the Transvaal, and he observed it in the Matabele country 
in December. In Natal Mr. Ayres writes, “these Finches are 
only found here during the autumn and winter months, from May to 
August or thereabouts ; they are generally, but not invariably, gre- 
garious ; they seem always to settle on the ground amongst grass or 
weeds, and not on the stalks of the grass or on bushes; their flight 
is rapid; on rising, they utter a chattering note with a peculiar 
metallic sound. The seeds of grass and weeds form, I think, their 
entire diet.” 
Above, fuscous-grey ; below, banded black and white; chin and 
eyebrows white; throat and front black; chest and sides grey, 
banded black and white; centre of chest rufous; vent white; tail 
tipped with white ; bill, lower mandible black, upper red. Length, 
Beno! wine Lo >) tail, 1 9%, 
Fig. Temm. Pl. Col. 221, fig. 3. 
445, HypocHeRA ULTRAMARINA (Gimel.) Ultramarine Finch, 
Amadina nitens, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 201. 
Mr. Ayres procured this species in Natal, and Mr, F. A. Barratt 
met with it near Rustenberg; it was also obtained by Dr. Kirk on 
the Zambesi, and Mr. Andersson’s last collection contained a single 
example from Ondonga. 
Shining bluish-black; wings and tail rather fuscous, with pale 
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