25 



FKINGILLA TEYDEA. 



(TEYDEAN CHAFFINCH.) 



Fringilla teydea, Webb & Berth. Ornithologie Canarienne, p. 20 (1841). 



Figura unica. 

 Webb & Berthelot, torn. cit. pi. 1, d & $ . 



d ad. saturate cseruleus, subtiis pallidior : fronte et loris nigricante lavatis : remigibus nigricantibus, extus 

 cserulescente schistaceo limbatis : tectricibus alarum eodem colore marginatis et conspicue apicatis : 

 rectricibus nigris, vix cserulescente schistaceo marginatis, rectricibus duabus centralibus schistaceo 

 limbatis : abdomine imo caerulescenti-albido : subcaudalibus albis : rostro corneo, ad basin mandibular 

 albido : pedibus pallide corneis : iride brunnea. 



2 ad. supra schistaceo-brunnea : remigibus saturate brunneis extus pallide brunneo marginatis : tectricibus 

 alarum conspicue brunnescente apicatis : rectricibus saturate brunneis, vix pallidiore marginatis : 

 subtiis pallide brunnea, pectore et hypochondriis schistaceo lavatis : abdomine brunnescenti-albido : 

 subcaudalibus saturate albidis flavicanti-cervino lavatis. 



Adult Male (Teneriffe, 6th May). Entire upper parts rich dark blue; forehead and lores washed with 

 black ; quills black, broadly edged with dark slaty blue ; wing-coverts edged and broadly tipped with 

 slaty blue ; tail black, narrowly edged with dull slate-blue, the two central feathers being washed with 

 that colour ; underparts blue, much paler than the upper parts, and on the abdomen fading off into 

 dull bluish white ; under tail-coverts white ; beak horn-colour, almost white at the base of the under 

 mandible ; legs pale horn-colour ; iris dull brown. Total length 66 inches, culmen 065, wing 3 # 9, 

 tail 3"3, tarsus 09. 



Adult Female (Teneriffe, 25th April). Upper parts dark greyish brown, this colour everywhere replacing 

 the blue in the male; quills dark brown, edged with dull light brown; wing-coverts broadly tipped 

 with dirty brown ; tail dark brown, narrowly edged with light brown ; underparts dull light brown, 

 washed with slate-colour, especially on the breast and flanks ; abdomen and under tail-coverts dirty 

 white, the latter washed with buff. 



This, again, is one of those insular species, respecting which comparatively little is known, the 

 bird having so very restricted a range that, until lately, specimens have been extremely rare in 

 the cabinets of collectors. It is, indeed, only known from Teneriffe, where it was first discovered 

 by Messrs. Webb and Berthelot, who obtained a pair at las Palmas, near Chasna, early in the 

 month of January, when they were driven down by the snow which had fallen heavily in the 

 more elevated portion of the mountain. These gentlemen write that its note is plaintive, and 

 often repeated, and bears some resemblance to the call-note of the Serin Finch. They also speak 

 of it as extremely shy, and most difficult of approach. When they first visited the plateau of the 



