304 THE GREEN GOLDFINCH. 



The sides are spotted with ashen grey ; a crooked purple spot 

 extends under the eyes to the back of the head; the quill 

 feathers are dark brown, with ashen brown edges ; the tail 

 blue. The female has no red spot under the eyes. 



These -birds also vary in colour, perhaps only from difference 

 of age. Specimens are found which are grey on the back ; 

 others having the same colour on the under part of the body, 

 and others, again, on whose belly a red tinge may be remarked. 



Observations. These are African birds, which are brought 

 to Europe principally from Angola and Guinea. Their move- 

 ments are lively and engaging; and the song of the male, 

 though not loud, is agreeable. They are fed on canary, 

 bruised hemp, and poppy seed. 



123. THE LIVER-COLOURED FINCH. 

 Fringilla Hepatica, LIN. Der Letter Carbene Fink, BECH. 



Description. This, which is almost as large as the preced- 

 ing species, measures in length four inches, for which four 

 lines are to be taken for the beak, and one inch and three 

 quarters for the wedge-shaped tail. It resembles it also in 

 colour, though different in air and behaviour. The beak is in 

 shape like a House Sparrow, blood-red with a sharp point; 

 the eyelids are bare and yellow ; the iris a reddish brown ; 

 and the feet flesh-coloured. The cheeks, the throat, half the 

 breast, the sides, and rump, are a dirty greenish blue ; on the 

 cheek is a dark purple spot. The upper part of the body is a 

 dark liver colour ; the belly the same, but lighter ; the wings 

 dark brown; the edges of all the projecting feathers like the 

 back; the tail dark brown on the inner side, on the outer 

 inclining to blue, with black tips. 



Observations. This bird inhabits the African coasts, and is 

 very cheerful. Its cry is " Tza" and its weak song resem- 

 bles that of the Wood Wren. It is fed on canary seed, and 

 seems to have a long life. 



124. THE GREEN GOLDFINCH. 



Fringilla Melba, LIN. Chardonneret Verd, BUF. Der Griine 

 Stieglitz, BECH. 



Description. This bird, not unlike the common Goldfinch 

 in size and form, is four inches and a half long, of which the 

 beak measures half an inch, and the tail one inch and a half. 

 The beak is compressed at the sides, ends in a long point, 



