LINURGUS. 171 



Bt'ehm records the species as beiug plentiful on the Bajuda 

 desert to the south of Dongola in about 18° N. lat., which is 

 as far south as the species is known to range. Chalihl Effendi 

 informs us that it is well known to the Egyptians under the 

 name of " Asf ur el hadjar" (Little Stonebird). He found it 

 in Nubia and Egypt generally in large flocks of about eighty 

 individuals, between the river and the mountains, and espe- 

 cially frequenting the wilder and more rocky localities. It is 

 very tame, but keeps apart from other species, even at the 

 desert wells, at which it is to be found in every oasis. Accord- 

 ing to Dr. Leith Adams, it breeds among the old tombs at 

 Thebes, associating there with the Domestic Sparrow, and it 

 begins to pair about the end of January. 



This pretty little Finch, rendered so conspicuous by its 

 bright red bill and roseate tints, I found very plentiful in 

 Nubia and Upper Egypt in pairs and flocks along the confines 

 of the desert during the early spring. It invades the culti- 

 vated land for its food, which apparently consists entirely of 

 small seeds, and at such times I have seen them 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 they much reminded me of Linnets. 

 According to Heuglin this Rose Finch is a poor songster ; its 

 call note is a hollow "ter-ter"; but at times it pours forth 

 a loud trumpet-like sound. 



The eggs are pale greenish with scattered rufous dots, 

 most numerous about a zone at the thick end, and measure 

 0-8 X 0-58. 



Genus II. LINURGUS, 



This geuus is distinguishable from all the others found in the Ethiopian 

 Eegion by the comparatively short tail, which does not measm-e four times 

 the length of the culmen. 



Bill rather stout and fairly long, with the culmen curved and the sides 



