2-i GBIMSON-WINQED GB08BEAK. 



bird in a new genus, that of Rhodopechys, in which he was also 

 followed by the versatile Prince of Canino. It differs, however, from 

 the Bullfinches in the size and form of the beak, and belongs, I 

 think more strictly to the genus Coccothraustes, although here again 

 the form of the wing is different. 



Bonaparte says of it in his "Conspectus Avium Europearum," p. 

 28: — "This elegant ErytJirosjnza phcenicoptera, which does not differ 

 from the Fringilla sanguinea of Gould, from the confines of Persia 

 and Circassia, claims its place in the ornithology of Europe, which it 

 can always ensure by a few movements of its wings. It is essentially 

 sedentary, only changing from plains to mountains." 



In addition to the above places, Erzeroum may be mentioned more 

 particularly as a locality, in the neighbourhood of which place it is 

 found in flocks of five or six. It occurs also in the southern parts 

 of Africa. 



In its habits it very much resembles P. githaginea, living among 

 rocks and stones in the desert, and feeding upon seeds. 



The male in breeding plumage has the top of the head black; the 

 nape, back, scapularies, and wing coverts rich chesnut brown, cheeks, 

 throat, and flanks, being a brown of a lighter shade. Wings black, 

 with the first two thirds of all the primaries, except the first, rich 

 crimson, the secondaries being broadly tipped with very pure white; 

 upper tail coverts crimson; tail black, with the exception of the most 

 external on each side, which are pure white; all the other quills more 

 or less tipped with white. The feathers surrounding the eyes crimson; 

 the crop and abdomen fawn-colour, with the feathers covering the 

 thighs white; under parts of the wings at the shoulders bordered with 

 crimson; the rest of the upper part white, below slaty brown; tail, 

 when closed, white, being covered by the two external feathers. Feet 

 brown; beak yellow. 



The female has the upper part of the head brown, with all the other 

 upper parts different shades of the same colour, only a slight vestige 

 of the crimson colour of male being perceptible; the primaries and 

 secondaries dark brown, the former slightly edged with crimson, and 

 the latter tipped with dirty yellow. Throat, cheeks, crop, and flanks 

 nutmeg brown; abdomen dirty-mottled white and brown. 



The figures of this beautiful bird are from specimens kindly sent 

 me by Mr. Gould. The male is from Erzeroum. The female was also 

 shot in the breedinsr season. 



