148 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



Pytelia melba (now referred to another genus) with which Messrs. 

 Finsch and Hartlaub at first confounded P. afra, is said by Capt. 

 Shelley to frequent the low Mimosa bushes, mostly in pairs. It is 

 highly probable that P. afra would do the same thing ; as other, far 

 more remote, African Waxbills do. 



Mr. Anderson observes, respecting P. melba : " 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." 



Heuglin says : "The variegated Pytelia lives in the warmer parts 

 of North-east Africa, on the Sambar coast, in Bogos country, the low- 

 lying regions of Habesch, on the white and blue River, in Kordofan, 

 also in southern Nubia and northern Takah. It seems to be resident; 

 its summer and winter dress hardly differ. It is always found singly 

 or in pairs among clumps of trees, in thick scrub and bushes ; dry 

 sandy districts suit it better than other localities, and it leads a 

 perfectly quiet, retiring life. We have not observed it at great 

 elevations, and just as little on the grassy levels ; although it only 

 flies a few feet at most above the ground, it only descends to the 

 earth for a second, does not run much here and there upon it. It 

 has an extremely gentle disposition, is in no respect timid; moreover, 

 its monotonous song is only occasionally heard, at the commencement 

 of the rainy season, sounding from the bare parts of the thorn-bushes. 

 I have been able to learn nothing respecting its nesting habits." 



The preceding observations, upon an allied species, give us an 

 inkling as to the probable behaviour of the Red-faced Finch in a wild 

 state ; but afford no clue as to its nidification. Fortunately this has 

 been noted by Dr. G. A. Fischer, who says : " The nest of Pytelia 

 cinereigula (=P. afraj , which I found abundantly in orange- trees in 

 May, June and July, resembles that of Spermestes cucullata, consisting 

 of the same materials ; its circumference is greater by one half ; with 

 a side entrance." 



Dr. Russ says that Dr. Fischer found and killed the species at 

 Zanzibar, in four to six examples, in the vicinity of the negro huts : 

 so far proving its similarity in habits to P. melba. One would have 

 thought that Dr. Fischer, with the chance which he had of making 

 copious and exact notes on the habits, nidification and food of a 

 species, which he must have recognized as a rarity; would have 

 published something more than the extremely meagre note respecting 

 its nest which I have quoted above. To affirm that it resembles that 



