Finches. 2 1 9 



Central Africa. Flocks of these brilliant birds may 

 be seen climbing up and down the stalks, rising 

 suddenly in the air and disappearing with the rapidity 

 of flashes of lightning. The nests are almost always 

 hung between the stalks of grass or durrah, never in 

 trees. 



The GRAND BISHOP BIRD (Euplectes oryx), called 

 by Bechstein the "Grenadier Grosbeak," resembles 

 the Common Bishop Bird in plumage, but is consider- 

 ably larger, and the red is of a deeper shade. The 

 hens and the cocks, when in their grey dress, are much 

 darker. This species live in Southern Africa, and are 

 common at the Cape of Good Hope. The nests are 

 usually found among the reeds, or in the branches of 

 trees overhanging water. The movements of the male 

 bird, when in full plumage, are very singular : he puffs 

 himself out into a round ball, and dances about as if 

 to display his beauty to his wife and to all beholders. 



The NAPOLEON BISHOP BIRD (Euplectes melano- 

 gaster) is an Abyssinian bird, and was introduced into 

 France under its native name Warabi, but received 

 the name of" Napoleon " in compliment to the Emperor 

 Napoleon III., great numbers being imported into 

 Europe at the time of the first great Paris Exhibition. 

 It is a black and yellow bird, with brownish wings and 

 tail, and black chin and stomach ; the prevailing colour 

 of the body being chrome-yellow. The male has also 

 the habit of puffing himself into a ball, and whirring 



