BIEDS OF EGYPT. 155 



upper tail-coverts white, with black centres to the feathers ; 

 tail-feathers pointed and black, with white edges ; underparts 

 white ; throat marked with longitudinal dusky spots ; sides 

 of the chest rose-colour, inclining to cherry-red ; flanks chest- 

 nut ; beak dark brown, inclining to flesh-colour towards the 

 base of the lower mandible ; legs and irides brown. 



Entire length 55 inches; culmen 4; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 3*2 ; tarsus 0.6. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 191. 

 126. Erythrospiza githaginea (Licht.) Besert-Bulljinch. 



(Plate V.) 



This pretty little bird, rendered so conspicuous by its 

 bright red bUl, is very plentiful in Upper Egypt and Nubia, 

 where it may be met with in paii-s and flocks along the 

 confines of the desert. It invades the cultivated land for 

 its food, which consists entii'ely of small seeds, and at such 

 times may be seen clustered in groups upon the mustard- 

 and other plants, which wave to and fro under the weight of 

 the birds as they busily peck away at the seeds. In flight 

 it closely resembles the Linnet ; but its pale roseate tints 

 easily distinguish it from any other Egyptian Finch. 



Male in breeding-plumage. — The feathers round the beak 

 are brightly tinted with rosy red ; top of the head, ear-coverts, 

 and sides of the neck delicate ashy grey, shading on the nape 

 and back into soft pinkish brown ; rump and upper tail- 

 coverts pink, the feathers edged with carmine ; wings brown, 

 with broad pink borders to the secondaiies and wing-coverts, 

 all being narrowly edged with carmine ; tail brown, with 



