252 



GROSBEAK. 



57— MADAGASCAR GROSBEAK. 



Loxia Madagascariensis, Ind. Om. i. 376. Lin. i. 300. Gm. Lin. i. 847. Shaw's 



Zool. ix. 244. 

 Cardinalis Madagascariensis, Bris. iii. 112. t. 6. f. 2. Id. 8vo.i. 381. 

 Le Foudis, Moineau de Madagascar, Buf. iii. 495. P/. en/. 134. 2. 

 Madagascar Grosbeak, Gen. Syn. iii. 119. /</. 5«tj9. 150. 



SIZE of a House Sparrow ; length at least five inches. The bill 

 dusky ; through the eye a black streak ; the general colour of the 

 plumage red, but the middle of each feather on the back is black ; 

 quills and tail brown, margined with olive green ; legs grey brown. 



Young birds are olive, and get the red colour by degrees. The 

 one figured in Brisson has the black streak through the eye not very 

 distinct, and in the PI. enlum. not at all expressed ; it is therefore to 

 be suspected, that these represent the females, or young birds. 



Inhabits Madagascar, where it is called Foudi lahe-menoe. 



In the drawings of Sir J. Anstruther is one six inches in length. 

 Bill stout, yellow; plumage in general fine scarlet, but the quills 

 and tail are black; round the eye yellow; just over the forehead 

 black, passing through the eye in a streak, at the back part curving 

 a little upwards ; tail Ion gish, even; legs brown. 



Inhabits the Coast of Coromandel, in India, and is probably the 

 complete, or adult bird : in Lord Mountnorris's drawings, made in 

 Abyssinia, it is called Ginerba ; the tail here seems much rounded, 

 if not cuneiform, and red brown. The Red-headed Finch, described 

 hereafter, is by some thought to belong to this bird ; if so, it may 

 prove to be the female, or young one, in imperfect plumage. 



