THE BLUE GEOSBEAK. 203 



:n the middle with black; the sides of the head and wing 

 coverts are greyish white, striped with black ; the smaller wing 

 coverts and the rump are light yellow ; the tail is edged with 

 grey ; the beak light or horn grey. 



At pairing time, or the period of the second moulting, the 

 male resembles the female. 



Observations. Like the last mentioned, this bird is a native of 

 the Cape of Good Hope. It may be kept in a cage by itself, 

 or with a female, and fed upon hemp and canary seed. Its 

 song is not remarkable. 



In a wild state, it frequents rivers and brooks, and though 

 living on grain and seeds, is not so destructive a bird as the 

 foregoing. Its eggs are grey, spotted with black. 



79. THE CAFFEAEIAN GEOSBEAK. 

 Loxia Caffra, LIN. Le Caffre, BUF. Der Mohren Kembeisser, BECH. 



Description. This bird is about the size of a Bullfinch ; but 

 its slightly erected tail, with which, however, it is adorned 

 only in the pairing season, is twice as long as the bird itself. 

 The beak is greyish brown ; the feet grey. The prevailing 

 colour of the plumage is a velvety black ; the shoulders are 

 blood red ; the wing coverts white ; the pen feathers brownish 

 grey, edged with white. 



The female is entirely grey, with the exception of a slight 

 tinge on the shoulders. The male assumes his beautiful garb 

 in November, and after pairing time, which is in January, be- 

 comes like the female. 



Observations. The Caffrarian Finch is a native of the inland 

 country, north-west of the Cape of Good Hope, where it 

 makes its nest in the marshes. It is but seldom brought to 

 Europe ; and on account of its long tail, needs a very large 

 cage. It is said that in high winds this tail is very incon- 

 venient ; and in rainy weather, is so cumbrous, that the bird 

 may even be caught by hand. It may be fed on canary seed. 



80. THE BLTJE GEOSBEAK. 



Loxia Ceerulea, LIN. Le Bouvreuil bleu d'Amerique, BUF. Der dunket" 

 blaue Kembeisser , BECH. 



Description. The Blue Grosbeak is about the size of the 

 Common Crossbill, but somewhat louger, being six inches and 

 a half in length, of which the beak measures half an inch, 



