108 THE BLUE FINCH. 



and the rump of a light yellow ; the tail-feathers edged with 

 grey ; the beak pale or raven grey. 



The plumage of the male after pairing is like that of the 

 fomale. 



Observations. — This bird, which comes from the Cape of Good Hope 

 lives very well in the house ; it is kept in a cage, alone or with the female, 

 and fed with liemp and canary seed. In its native country it frequents the 

 edges of streams and rivers, feeds on seeds, but is not so mischievous as 

 the preceding. The eggs are grey, spotted with black. It is said to be 

 nice to eat. 



THE CAFFRARIAN FINCH. 



Loxia CaflFra, Linnaeus ; Le Caffre, Buffon ; Der Mohren Kernbeisser, Bechstetn. 



This bird is very little larger than the bullfinch, but its 

 long and raised tail is about twice the length of its body : it is 

 only ornamented with it during the pairing season. The beak 

 is brown grey; the feet grey; the prevailing colour of the 

 plumage is velvet black : the shoulders are red ; the coverts 

 white ; the pen-feathers brovna grey, with a white border. 



The female is always grey, and has only a little red on the 

 shoulders. The male acquires its beautiful black plumage at 

 the beginning of November, and loses it in January, to assume 

 the colours of the female. 



Observations. — This species, which is found in the interior of tho 

 country north of the Cape, lives and builds in marshes : it is rarely 

 brought to Europe. The long tail of the male requires a large cage in order 

 to preserve its beauty. In its vnld state this length of tail is very incon- 

 venient during the high winds ; and during the rainy season it may be 

 caught by the hand. It is fed with canary seed. 



THE BLUE FINCH. 



Loxia coerulea, Linn^us ; Le Bouvreuil bleu d'Am^rique, Buffok • Der dunkf) • 

 blaue Kernbeisser, Bechstein. 



This bird is the size of the common grosbeak, about six 

 inches and a half in length, of wliich the tail measures two- 

 The beak, which measures six lines, is strong, and of a dark 

 brown ; the feet black : a black streak surrounds the chin, and 



