Correspondence



63



The following reply has been sent to Mr. Mylan :—


I have carefully compared your bird with all the descriptions of

Spermophila (Sporophila ) in the British Museum catalogue, and with

those of allied genera, and I have come to the conclusion that it must

be the Fire-red Finch ( Spermophila minuta), although it struck me as

being rather large for that species and with a beak which reminded

me of Oryzoborus; the colouring of the upper parts, however, does not

agree with that of species in that genus. I. once possessed an example

of S. minuta, but when it ylied it was in poor condition and not worth

preserving, so that I have no specimen for comparison with yours.


It is quite likely that the male bird sent to you as S. plumbea may

be S. albigularis; dealers are at times liable to make mistakes.


A. G. Butler.



