THE BLUE-BELLIED FINCH. 303 



in summer, in the State of New York especially. Like our 

 Goldfinches, they live on thistle seeds, with which they are to 

 be fed when caged. They become exceedingly tame. 



121. THE BBAZILIAN FINCH. 

 Fringilla Granatina, LIN. Le Grenadin, BUF. Der Brazilishe Fink, BKCH. 



Description. The Brazilian Finch is as large as a Siskin, 

 four inches and three quarters in length. The beak is coral 

 red ; the iris dark brown ; the eyelids scarlet ; the feet light 

 grey ; the sides of the head, round the eyes, purple ; the 

 upper part of the base of the bill blue ; the throat, the under 

 part of the belly, and the shanks black ; the under part of the 

 head and body chestnut-coloured ; the back and the scapulars 

 inclining to brown; the rump blue ; the quill feathers brown; 

 the tail wedge-formed and black. 



These birds are by no means uniform in colour. Some have 

 a brown spot between the beak and the eyes, and the back 

 part of the body, both above and below, violet. In other 

 specimens the under part of the belly, and the shanks, are of 

 the same colour as the upper, while the throat is greenish 

 brown. In others, again, the tail is reddish. 



The female has a red beak, and a purple spot under the eyes. 

 The top of the head is reddish yellow; the back greenish 

 grey ; the throat and the under parts a light reddish yellow ; 

 the lower portion of the belly and the vent whitish ; the rest 

 much as in the male, but duskier in colour. 



Observations. This handsome bird is a native of Brazil. 

 In the form of the beak it resembles the Goldfinch, and is 

 fond of the same food. Its motions are lively, and its song 

 exceedingly pleasant. 



THE BLUE-BELLIED FINCH. 



Fringilla Bengalus, LIN. Le Bengali, BUF. Der Blaubaiichige FinJc^ BECH. 

 Description. This bird is hardly larger than the Siskin, 

 being four inches and a half long, of which the beak measures 

 four lines, and the somewhat wedge-shaped tail one inch and 

 a half. The bill is compressed at the sides, very pointed, and 

 of a red flesh colour. The iris is nut-brown ; the feet light 

 brown ; the upper part of the body an ashen brown, with a 

 purple gloss ; the sides of the head, the under part of the 

 neck, the breast, belly, rump, and vent, a light or azure blue. 



