56 How to Sex Cage Birds. 



paler, slightly broader, and more confined to the sides of the body " 

 (Shelley, I. c, p. 271). 



The broader white barring of the under parts seems to be a 

 characteristic of females in this genus. 



Crimson-faced Waxbill (Pytelia melba). 



This bird comes near to the preceding, from the female of which 

 its hen differs in the uniform greyish ash of the chin and throat ; 

 its legs are darker than in its own male, in addition to differences 

 under P. exterior. 



Rosy-rumped or Sundevall's Waxbill (Estrilda rhodopyga). 



The sexes are said to be alike by Dr Sharpe, and Captain Shelley 

 mentions no difference, but it is probable that the female is less 

 brightly coloured than the male. This Waxbill, in the crimson on 

 the wings, approaches the species of Pytelia. 



St Helena Waxbill {Estrilda astrilda). 



The female is slightly paler than the male, and shows much less 

 rose-red on the under parts ; it is also rather smaller. 



Common or Grey Waxbill {Estrilda cinerea). 

 The sexes differ much as in the preceding species. 



Blue-breasted Waxbill (Estrilda. angolensis). 



Both Dr Sharpe and Captain Shelley state that both sexes of this 

 species resemble the female of the Cordon Bleu, excepting for the 

 purple beak. I believe, however, that it will be found on careful 

 comparison of undoubted sexes that the male of the Blue-breasted 

 Waxbill is much more brightly blue than the female, and perhaps 

 more than the male of the Cordon Bleu. 



Cordon Bleu or Crimson-eared Waxbill (Estrilda phamicotis). 



The female is not so brightly blue as the male, and with a bare 

 wash of it on the flanks, the crimson patch is absent from the ear- 

 coverts. If anything, the beak appears to be a trifle wider at the 

 base than in the male, which is unusual if constant. Captain 

 Shelley calls this Urceginthus bengalus. 



Violet-eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina). 



The female is greyer above and yellower below than the male ; 

 the throat is whitish ; the lilac on the face paler ; no black on the 

 throat ; no blue on under tail-coverts. Captain Shelley refers the 

 last three species to the genns Urceginthus. 



Sydney Waxbill (jEgintha temporalis). 



No sexual difference has been indicated, but it is probable that 

 the female is rather duller than the male. Unfortunately, I only 



