202 THE CAPE GROSBEAK. 



much the same appearance, except that the marking is darker. 

 The feathers on the upper part of the body are blackish, with 

 a broad margin of reddish grey ; and the stripe over the eyea 

 is a pale sulphur colour. In a wild state the males lose the 

 red colour, and become like the females, after the pairing 

 time, which is in January. They resume their own garb in 

 July. Their appearance is very handsome when the moulting 

 is not quite over, as they then have, in addition to the varie- 

 gated head and body, a red neck and tail. 



Observations. These birds are so common at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, as to do as much damage to the wheat blossom and 

 young grain, as the Sparrows with us ; and when in the evening 

 they return from the corn fields to their nests, among the reeds, 

 their twittering may be heard at a great distance. Their cry, 

 "Deebf is like that of the Sparrow; and in their weak song, 

 they resemble the Siskin, Their nest is cleverly constructed 

 of small twigs and cotton, and though with only one entrance, 

 has two distinct chambers, one for the male, and the other 

 for the female. The eggs are green. 



The Grenadier Grosbeak should be kept in a small cage, and 

 fed on canary seed. The male and female seem to enjoy each 

 others' society, but there is no instance known of their having 

 paired. 



78. THE CAPE GROSBEAK. 



Loxia Capensis, LIN. Le Pincon noir et jaune, BUF. Der Kapsche 

 Kernbeisser, BECH. 



Description. One of these handsome birds, which I myself 

 possess, is about the size of a Bullfinch, being six inches and a 

 quarter in length. Of this, the tail, which is somewhat wedge- 

 shaped, measures two inches and a half. The beak is whitish 

 on the upper mandible, very much compressed at the sides, and 

 pointed ; the iris is dark brown ; the feet dark flesh colour. 

 The head, the neck, the top of the back, the under part of 

 the body, and the tail, are a velvety black ; the rest of the back, 

 the rump, and the smaller wing coverts, a beautiful golden 

 yellow. The larger wing coverts, as well as the pen feathers, 

 are blackish, or very dark brown, edged with greenish yellow. 

 The scapulars are light brown, with broad margins of greyish 

 red. 



The female is light brown, though all the feathers are spotted 



