FRINGILLESLE. 399 



olive brown with dark streaks, the tips of the greater and lesser 

 wing-coverts whitish, forming two conspicuous bands on the 

 wings ; below paler brown, albescent on the throat, the middle of 

 the belly, and the under tail-coverts ; and darker and somewhat 

 streaked on the breast and flanks. 



Bill yellowish brown ; feet horny brown; hides light brown. 

 Length b\ inches ; wing 3^; tail 2£. 



The Rose-finch is found as a cold weather visitant throuo-hout 



D 



the greater part of India, more rare towards the South, common 

 in Central and Northern India, and in the Himalayas, chiefly how~ 

 ever at the foot of the hills and in the valleys ; and it extends into 

 Assam and Arracan. Out of India it is found over great part 

 of Central and Northern Asia and Europe. It visits the plains 

 during October, and leaves in April. In March, niany are taken 

 in fine breeding livery. In the extreme south I have chiefly seen 

 it in bamboo jungle, feeding on the seeds of bamboos on 

 several occasions, and so much is this its habit that the 

 Telugu name signifies ' Bamboo sparrow.' In other parts of the 

 country it frequents alike groves, gardens, and jungles, feeding 

 on various seeds and grain ; also nol unfrequently on flower buds 

 and young leaves. Adams states that in Cashmere it feeds much 

 on the seeds of a cultivated vetch. Now and then i,t is seen in 

 lar°e flocks, but in general it associates in small parties. It breeds 

 in Northern Asia. It is frequently caught and caged, and has rather 

 a pleasing song. Blyth says, " The Tuti has a feeble twittering 

 sono-, but soft and pleasing, being intermediate to that of the Gold- 

 finch, and that of the small Red-pole Linnet ; the call-note much 

 resembling that of a Canary-bird." 



Perhaps the North American Red-finches, Fr. purpurea, Gm., 

 and Fr. frontalis, Say, with three or four lately discriminated 

 species from the same Continent, ought to be classed in this genus, 

 rather than in Propasser. 



Gen. Pr.orASSEE, Hodgson. 



Syn. Phmnicospiza, Blyth. 



Char. — Bill more elongated, Finch-like, or much as in the 

 Sparrows, scarcely bulged, the culmen and gonys slightly curved, 



