188 



CRIMSON-BILLED WEAVER. 



Euplectes sanguinirostris^ SWAINS. 



Above light brown striped with black ; crown and body be- 

 neath ferruginous \ frontal band, ears and chin black ; 

 bill crimson. 



Loxia sanguinirostris, Linn.' Moineau a bee rouge du Sene- 

 gal, PI. Enl. 183,y?#. pessima Moineau du Senegal, PL 



Enl. 223, f. 1, adult. Black-faced Buntling and Red-billed 

 Grosbeak of authors. Le Dioch, Vieill. Ois. Cltant. pi. 22, 

 male ; 23, female. 



THE bright blood-red colour of the bill in tbis pretty 

 bird will distinguish it at first sight from all the 

 species of Weavers with which we are at present 

 acquainted; while its very large feet, and high 

 elongate-conic bill, shews it to be a true species of 

 the genus Euplectes. 



So Iktle dependance can be placed upon the 

 accuracy of the old ornithologists, more especially 

 in this extensive family, that they have actually 

 described this bird under two different genera ; a 

 convincing proof that the bill alone is quite insuffi- 

 cient to characterize the natural groups of Frin- 

 gillidce. 



The Crimson-billed Weaver is one of those species 

 which are reared by the Parisian dealers with per- 

 fect ease. M. Vieillot mentions his having pos- 



