THE MALACCA FINCH. Ill 



2. This variety is thus described in Latham's Synopsis of 

 Birds. 



The top of the head, upper part of the neck, and lesser wing 

 coverts, light brown, with semicircular black lines ; the cheeks 

 plain brown, but edged at the lower part with bright crimson, 

 below which is a black line ; the breast and belly light brown, 

 occasionally marked with semicircular lines ; the pen-feathers 

 and tail are brown. 



OBSERVATIONS. Bird-fanciers give to these the name of Indian sparrows 

 though they come from Africa ; their cry is similar to that of the common 

 sparrow, and their song not very different. They are fed on canary seeds. 



THE BROWN-CHEEKED FINCH. 



Loxia canora, LINNAEUS ; Der braunwangige Kernbeisser, BECHSTEIN 



THIS bird is the size of the siskin, and four inches in length. 

 The beak short, strong, and horn brown. The feet flesh-colour. 

 The cheeks brown, adorned with a yellow border from the 

 throat to the back of the ear. The female has no yello\< 

 border to the cheeks. 



OBSERVATIONS.- This pretty species comes from Mexico ; its song is soft 

 and clear ; its actions are as lively as they are amusing. It is kept in a 

 cage, and fed on canary seed and millet. 



THE MALACCA FINCH. 



Loxia Malacca, LINNJEUS ; Le Jacobin, BUFFON : Der Malackische Kernbeisser, 

 BECHSTEIN. 



THIS bird is the size of the greenfinch, and four inches and 

 a half in length, of which the tail measures one and a half. 

 The beak thick, five lines in length, and bluish grey ; the feet 

 the same colour. The head, neck, a stripe, which extends up 

 the belly to the vent, and the thighs, are black ; the back, wings 

 and tail, pale chestnut. 



The following is mentioned as a variety. 



The Chinese Grosbeak (Brissoris Ornithology, III., page 23o, 

 No. 7), with the head, throat, and front of the neck black, the 

 upper part of the body red brown or chestnut, the wings and 

 tail similar to the one above. 



I have seen this bird hi a room several times, and have always 



