s 
. 468 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA, 
its food upon the ground, usually in small flocks, and, when 
disturbed, takes refuge in the nearest tree or hedge; it occasionally 
utters a kind of chirping twitter.” It has been found by Senor 
Anchieta in Benguela. 
Above brown; beneath grey-brown, with a tinge of red, and 
barred with dark-brown, which imparts to it a scaled appearance ; 
top and sides of head, and chin deep shining pink; tail-feathers 
brown, all, with the exception of the two centre ones, tipped with 
white, two exterior margined exteriorly with the same; upper tail 
verts barred with brown. The female resembles the male, but wants 
the crimson head. Length, 5’ 6’’’; wing, 3’’; tail, 2’” 3’’’. 
“The bill is pale yellowish brown, the legs and toes bright straw- 
yellow” (Andersson). A female shot by Mr. Frank Oates had the 
iris pale hazel; the skin round the eye red; the bill dusky blue; and 
the legs dirty flesh colour. 
Fig. Smith, Il. Zool. 8. Afr. Aves, pl. 146. 
457, Pyrenta Mensa (Linn.) Southern Red-faced Finch. 
Estrelda melba, Layard, Cat. B. S. Afr. p. 199. 
This is entirely a bird of the interior, and we believe that it has 
not yet been found in Natal. Professor Peters obtained it at 
Delagoa Bay, and in the Transvaal it was shot by Mr. Ayres on the 
Limpopo River. Mr. T. E. Buckley procured it in Bamangwato 
and in the Matabele country; the late Mr, Frank Oates having met 
with it at Tati in September and October. Mr. T. Ayres writes :— 
“They frequent the low mimosa bushes mostly in pairs, and 
although not uncommon on the Crocodile River and in the 
Rustenberg district, we did not meet with them to the north of the 
Tatin River.” Mr. Andersson observes:—“This Finch is found 
sparingly in Damara and Great Namaqua Land, and usually occurs 
in pairs ; its favourite resort is low bush and old abandoned village 
fences, whence the Damaras call it the ‘Kraal bird. Its food 
consists of seed and insects.” It was met with by Mr. Monteiro in 
Benguela, where also it has been found by Senor Anchieta. 
Male.—Forehead, chin, and throat scarlet; back of head and 
neck ashy; back and chest ‘golden-green, the latter spotted at 
the junction of the belly with white; vent white ; rump and centre 
tail feathers dull scarlet ; outer tail feathers black-brown. Female.— 
