34 How to Sex Cage Birds. 



Rock-Sparrows (Petronia). 

 The Lesser Rock-Sparrow (Petronia dentata). 



No characters for distinguishing the sexes have been recorded ; 

 but doubtless the form of the beak will serve in this as in other 

 finches. 



White-throated Rock-Sparrow (Petronia albigularis). 



This species was confounded with the preceding as the young 

 plumage, but I conclusively proved that both were adult ; no sexual 

 difference has been recorded. 



True Sparrows (Passer). 



The Cape-Sparrow (Passer arcuatus). 



The "adult female differs from the male in the dark parts of the 

 head and the throat being ashy grey, and the broad white incom- 

 plete eyebrow being separated from the white on the sides of the 

 neck by a band of ashy grey behind the ear-coverts " (Shelley, 

 Birds of Africa, vol. iii. p. 248). 



The Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer diffiusus). 



No sexual distinction is recorded ; but there can be no doubt that 

 the beak of the male is stronger and the wings longer in proportion 

 in this sex than in the female. 



The Yellow Sparrow (Passer luteus). 



In the female the forehead, crown, back of neck, back, scapulars, 

 and least series of wing-coverts are pale brown ; under parts buff, 

 shaded with brown on the sides of the head, neck, and body. The 

 entire bird is smaller, but the wing is said to be of the same length ; 

 it is therefore probable that it is comparatively weaker, less adapted 

 for powerful flight, than that of the male ; the tail is shorter. 



The Golden Sparrow (Passer euchlorus). 



The female differs in having the upper parts pale brown where 

 they are yellow in the male ; mantle with a few obscure dark 

 streaks • under parts and sides of head buff, slightly browner on the 

 ear-coverts, and with a faint tinge of yellow on the thix>at ; under 

 wing-coverts buff. As with the preceding species, the entire bird 

 is said to be smaller, but the wing of the same length. 



Saffron Finches (Sycalis). 



The Common Saffron Finch (Sycalis faveola). 



The female when fully adult is greener than the male ; paler 

 yellow below, and without the fiery orange on the forehead which 

 characterises fully adult cock birds ; it, however, takes two or three 

 years for this bird to attain its full plumage. When younger the 



