312 NATURALISTS CABINET, 



Description Curious nests Beautiful appearance. 



of trees, and only a small hole left for the bird to 

 enter at. 



THE GREN4DIZR GROSBEAK. 



THIS is about the size of a sparrow. The 

 body is in general of a beautiful red colour. The 

 forehead, sides of the head, chin, breast, and 

 telly, are black. The vvings are brown, and the 

 legs pale brown. 



The grenadier grosbeak is an inhabitant of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and some other parts of 

 Africa; it is supposed to be the finch described 

 by Kolben in his account of the Cape, He says 

 it is chiefly found in marshy and reedy grounds, 

 vrhere it makes its nest and produces its young. 

 The nest is formed among the reeds with small 

 twigs, interwoven so closely with cotton as not 

 to be penetrated by any weather. It is also 

 divided into two compartments: of which the 

 upper is for the male, and the loyer for the fe- 

 xnale and the young. In winter (he further in-? 

 forms us), these birds change from scarlet to ash- 

 colour. 



The appearance of the grenadier grosbeakg 

 among the green reeds of their native climates, 

 is said to have a wonderful effect : for, from the 

 extreme brightness of their colours,, they appea^ 

 Jilie so many scarlet lilies. 



