THE ABYSSINIAN GROSBEAK. 313 



Description Curious nest. 



THE ABYSSINIAN GROSBEAK. 



THIS species is somewhat larger than the 

 last mentioned,, having the bill strong and black j 

 the head, throat, and breast, black ; the upper 

 parts of the body, the belly, and thighs, of pale 

 yellowish brown; the quills and tail brown, edged 

 with yellow ; and the legs reddish grey. It is, 

 according to its name, found in Abyssinia. It 

 forms a curious nest, of apyrimidal shape; which 

 is suspended from the ends of branches, like the 

 nests of some others of this tribe. The opening 

 is on one side, facing the east : the cavity is se- 

 parated in the middle by a partition to half its 

 height; up this the bird ascends perpendicularly, 

 and then descending on the other side, forms its 

 nest in the further chamber. By this means the 

 brood is defended from snakes, squirrels, mon- 

 keys, and other mischievous animals; besides 

 being secured from the rains, which in that 

 country last sometimes for five or six months 

 together. 



THE BENGAL GROSBEAK. 



IN the Asiatic Researches, we find the fol- 

 lowing description of this bird, by Sir William 

 Jones. " It is rather larger than a sparrow; with 

 yellow brown plumage, a yellowish head and 



VOL. III. NO, XXII. R 



