206 THE BANDED GKOSBEAK. 



ceeding, is four inches and a hall' in length. The beak i* 

 blueish grey, thick at the root, compressed in the middle, and 

 running rapidly to a point. The feet are short, and flesh- 

 coloured. The upper part of the body is a dark reddish grey 

 each feather having two black stripes, of which, however, only 

 one is visible. The wings and tail are blackish, the former 

 being lighter on the edge, the latter tipped with white. The 

 belly is black, covered with reddish white, egg-shaped spots. 

 The rest of the lower part of the body is reddish brown 

 grey, the feathers being edged with black. A dark purple 

 collar surrounds the cheeks and chin. 



The female is generally lighter ; the collar is wanting, and 

 the under part of the body is reddish brown, with a darker 

 shade on the edge of the feathers. 



Varieties. A male, which I have now before me, may be 

 described as follows : The head is reddish grey, with frequent 

 black stripes ; the upper part of the neck, the back, and rump, 

 are reddish grey, but each feather is intersected by a semi- 

 circular black line, and tipped with reddish brown ; the sca- 

 pulars, wing coverts, and hindmost pen feathers, are Jar k ashen 

 grey, with a transverse angular black stripe, and reddish brown 

 tips. A narrow stripe encircles the lower mandible, beneath 

 which is a purple streak, which passes to the cheeks. The lower 

 part of the neck, the sides, and shanks, are pale reddish brown, 

 with an angular black stripe on each feather. The breast is 

 white, tinged with red at the sides. The belly is a fine 

 chestnut brown, covered with oval white spots, and striped 

 with black only at the sides. The vent is white ; the wings 

 and tail are dark brown, edged with reddish brown ; the latter 

 being also tipped with white. 



In LATHAM' s Synopsis this variety is thus described: The top 

 of the head, back of the neck, back, and small wing coverts, are 

 light brown, covered with semicircular black lines ; the cheeks 

 are brown, but bordered below with a bright crimson line, 

 beneath which runs a black one. The breast and belly are 

 light brown, and sparingly marked with the semicircular lines ; 

 the pen feathers and tail brown. 



Observations. This bird although a native of Africa, has 

 received from the bird sellers the name of the Indian Sparrow. 

 It utters the same cry as the Common Sparrow, and its song 

 is as worthless. It may be fed on canary seed. 



