G20 ]\rr. D. A. I3anncrman on the 



It was lined with grass and no feathers were used, although 

 many pigeons and poultry are kept close by. The nest was a 

 domed structnre and, as I have mentioned, was very large. 

 On this date (loth March) it contained only two eggs, the 

 ground-colour hlnish green, closely spotted with dark brown, 

 the spots becoming united at the thick end into irregular 

 blotches. 



The plumage of the male entirely changes in January 

 before the breeding-season commences, and when this change 

 is completed he is one of the most handsome birds to be 

 seen. The head becomes rich chocolate-colour and the black 

 centres to the feathers on the back and mantle become very 

 intense. The under parts undergo the most complete change, 

 the throat becoming dead black and reaching on to the 

 breast, tiie feathers of wiiich are tipped with white. The 

 cheeks and a large ear-patch change from a dirty buff colour 

 to pure white, the breast likewise becomes white, and the 

 feathers of the sides and flanks deep black edged with bu(f, 

 giving the bird a most conspicuous appearance. By the 

 10th of February, and in some cases earlier, this change of 

 plumage has com[)letely taken place. The females, apart 

 from beeomiug generally blighter in colour throughout, 

 shew no very marked difference. 



Petroxia tetrOxXia madeirensis. Yellow-throated Rock- 

 Sparrow. 



Petroy)ia petronia modeirensis Erlanger, J. f. O. 1899, 

 p. 482*; Hartert, Vog. Pal. Paun. i. p. 141 (1910). 



Petron'ia petronia maderensls Thanner, Orn. Jahrb. xxi. 

 p. 97 (1910). 



«. $ . Aguimcs Road. 8th April ^(j9. 



6, c. ??. Santa Brigida. 22nd Feb. '11. 



Iris light brown ; bill horn-coloured, lower mandible 

 yellow; feet brown. Total leugth in tlie flesh 5*9 inches. 



I have compared a series of this Rock- Sparrow obtained 

 iu the Canary Islands with typical examples of retronia 

 petro7iia. I find that examples from the Canary Islands 

 have the under parts more grey-brown and the upper parts 



