107 



PYKKHULA MUKINA. 



(AZOEEAN BULLFINCH.) 



Pyrrhula coccinea, Pucheran, Rev. Zool. 1859, p. 413, nee Selys. 

 Pyrrhula murina, Godman, Ibis, 1866, p. 97. 



Priola, Prior, in the Azores. 



Godman, Ibis, 1866, pi. 3. 



Figura unica. 



$ capite, alis et cauda, ut in Pyrrhula europced coloratis : dorso cinereo-nmrino vix fusco-aurantiaco lavato : 

 uropygio dorso concolori sed magis cinereo : corpore subtus ut in fcemina Pyrrhula europcece sed pallide 

 fusco-aurantiaco tincto : rostro, iride et pedibus ut in P. europced coloratis. 



$ mari similis sed pectore magis cinereo et colore aurantiaco carente. 



Adult Male (St. Michael's, Azores, April). In general appearance resembling the female of Pyrrhula 

 europcea, but has a larger and stouter bill, the upperparts are washed with dull orange-brown, 

 especially towards the rump, which is the same colour as the back, and not white as in P. europcea ; 

 underparts brownish ashy with an orange-brown tinge; bill, iris, and feet as in P. europcea. Total 

 length about 6"25, culmen 05, wing 3"45, tail 3 - 0, tarsus 09. 



Adult Female (Azores) . Resembles the male, but is rather smaller in size, and less tinged with orange- 

 brown, especially on the underparts, which are greyer and paler than in the male. 



This island form of our Bullfinch, having some affinity to the Siberian Pyrrhula cineracea, 

 inasmuch as the sexes differ but slightly in appearance, is only known to inhabit the island of 

 St. Michael's, in the Azores, and appears to be confined to the mountainous parts of that island. 

 By M. Pucheran, who examined a single example obtained by M. Morelet, it was referred to 

 Pyrrhula coccinea, De Selys, as being the female of that species, which it certainly resembles, 

 but is easily distinguishable by the absence of white on the rump, besides a slight difference in 

 coloration ; it is indeed a most excellent and undoubtedly good species. Exceedingly little is 

 known respecting this bird; and it is one of the rarest of the Bullfinches in collections. I find 

 nothing on record respecting its habits beyond what is stated by Mr. Godman, who writes (I. c.) 

 as follows : — " In habits the Bullfinch of the Azores resembles our P. vulgaris, feeding principally 

 upon insects and the buds of trees. 1 believe that it is confined to the mountainous parts of St. 

 Michael's, where it is tolerably abundant. It is so tame that it takes but little notice of the 

 report of a gun, and I shot thirteen individuals in the same poplar tree in a few minutes. I 

 know nothing of its breeding-habits, as I was not on the island at the right time of year, and it 

 is difficult to obtain accurate information from the inhabitants." 



The specimens figured are an adult male and female from the Azores, in my own collection. 



