PASSERINE BIRDS. 1 63 



the tail is somewhat rounded at the sides. The colours of this species are extremely striking ; the top 

 of the head, and the whole of the lower part of the body, wings, and tail are brown ; the face, throat, 

 and wings bright red ; the upper mandible black, whilst the lower one is scarlet, and marked with 

 triangular black spots towards its base ; the feet are light red. We are indebted to Gould for the 

 discovery of this beautiful creature, but unfortunately he was only able to procure one specimen, and 

 learnt nothing as to its life and habits — indeed, had he not succeeded in making a painting of it, we 

 should never have been acquainted with this species, as the bird was stolen soon after being stuffed. 



THE STEEL FINCH. 



The Steel Finch {Hypochera uttramarind) frequents the banks of the Nile, and represents a 

 distinct group, with one species of which (Hypochera nitens) Europeans are familiar. This bird, like 

 its well-known relative, is distinguished by the following characteristics : a compact body, short tufted 

 tail, the exterior feathers of which are somewhat rounded, and wings of moderate length, reaching half 

 way down the tail ; the beak is short, conical, and vaulted ; the nostrils are furnished on each side with 

 bristles of considerable length. The plumage varies with the age of the bird or season of the year, 

 that of the male being black. The feathers of the Hypochera nitens are shaded with green, those of the 

 Hypochera ultramarina with bright blue. In the female the body is light brown, the feathers being 

 edged with reddish yellow, the breast, belly, and under tail-covers are white, the eyebrows of a red 

 shade, as is a streak that passes over the head. The male bird assumes a similar plumage during the 

 dry season. This species measures rather more than four inches, the wings two inches, the tail one 

 inch and four and a half lines. 



The Blue Steel Finch is found chiefly in Dongala, spread over the whole face of the country, 

 inhabiting the steppes, or seeking its food in the native villages with equal impartiality ; its favourite 

 haunts, however, are those wells and pleasant places selected as resting-places by the many caravans 

 of travellers passing through their domains, the debris from whose dinner or supper afford a plentiful 

 repast, which is rapidly appropriated by these elegant and industrious little creatures, who, meantime, 

 exhibit their graceful attitudes and attract constant attention to their varied movements. The period 

 of incubation extends from January until March; the nest is built upon a tree, and is a mere heap of 

 grass. We are unacquainted with the appearance of the eggs. No sooner are the young birds fledged 

 than the whole company associate themselves with the Fire Finches, and fall in masses upon die fields 

 of durrah, thereby drawing down upon themselves the hatred of the natives, who use every means in 

 their power to drive them from the spot, employing for this purpose a contrivance similar to that we 

 have already described in our account of the Rice Bird. The Blue Steel Finch is never caught for 

 purposes of domestication, but large numbers of the Green species are captured annually on the 

 western coast of Africa, and exported to Europe and America. 



THE BUTTERFLY FINCH. 

 The Butterfly Finch (Mariposa phccnicotis) is a species found constantly associated with the 

 birds above-mentioned. Its body is lengthy and slender, its tail long and wedge-shaped, and its beak, 

 which is extremely broad and high, placed at a right angle with the forehead. The first quill of the 

 wings exceeds the rest in length. The plumage of this bird is very thick and silky ; the whole of the 

 upper part of the body is grey, the face, breast, sides, and upper part of the centre of the tail a bright 

 greenish blue, the belly and under tail-covers dark grey, as is the under portion of the tail. The 

 cheeks are marked with a vivid red spot, the beak is pale red, and the feet flesh colour. Both sexes are 

 alike in plumage, except that the female is without die red spots upon the sides of the face. This 



