PASSERINE BIRDS. 



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THE FLAME-COLOURED FIRE FINCH. 

 The Flame-coloured Fire Finch {Euplectes ignicolor) in the construction of its body closely 

 resembles the Taha, from which, however, it differs entirely in the colour of its plumage. The coat of 

 the male is extremely soft, and its whole surface, except the wing and tail feathers, of a bright black or 

 fiery red. Except during the breeding season the male and female are alike dressed in a modest garb 

 of brown, which is so completely changed when pairing time arrives as to differ not merely in colour, 

 but in the softness and texture of the feathers ; the wings and tail alone remaining unaltered. When 



NESTS OF SOUTH AFRICAN WEAVER BIRDS. 



clothed in all its glory the male bird is black upon the top of the head, the cheeks, breast, and belly ; 

 the other parts of the body being bright red ; the wings exhibit a brownish shade, owing to the some- 

 what paler edges of the feathers. During this season the tail-covers become of such unusual length as 

 almost to conceal the tail. The eye is brown, the beak black, and the feet brownish yellow. The 

 body of the female is brown above, and of a yellowish shade beneath ; a yellow line passes over the 

 eyes, and the feet and beak are horn coloured. 



The Fire Finch inhabits the whole country from the middle of Nubia to the interior of Central 

 Africa, preferring such places as are in the vicinity of man, frequenting fields of corn, and only taking 

 up its quarters in beds of grass or reeds when other accommodation is not attainable. A field of 

 durrah is a veritable Eden to these birds, who cause much injury to the natives, often completely 

 destroying the crops, in spite of the many devices employed to scare them away ; for these bold-hearted 

 little thieves are not to be deterred from their work of destruction either by the dancing of dolls or 

 ■rattling of clappers. The Fire Finch exhibits great activity ; when amongst the corn it resembles a 

 Reed Sparrow rather than a Finch in its movements, as it climbs up and down the stalks, or hides 



