258 GROSBEAK. 



In some birds the tail is plain brown, with the vent and under tail 

 coverts black, probably a distinction of sex.* We have also seen 

 others which varied much, by having more or fewer of the black lines. 

 This species is found in the Canary Islands, Madeira, f Senegal, 

 Angola, the Cape of Good Hope, and India. J At the Cape makes 

 great havock in the gardens, devouring both seeds and blossoms ; § 

 and Mr. Barrow |[ gives an idea of the immense flocks of these birds, 

 when he relates the circumstance, of sixty-three having been shot at 

 one discharge of a small fowling piece. 



A.— Le Serevan, Mohieau du Senegal, Buf.'w. 103. PI. enl. 230. 3. 

 Red-rumped Grosbeak, Gen. Syn. iii. 153. Brown. III. pi, 29. 



Length four inches. Head, and neck behind cinereous ; back, 

 and wing coverts brown ; greater quills dusky ; breast, and belly 

 dirty white ; upper tail coverts crimson, and a bar of the same across 

 the vent; legs dark grey. 



The under parts in some specimens incline to yellow; and the 

 sides of the rump, and wing coverts are spotted with white; the base 

 of the bill bordered with black ; one with these markings was brought 

 from the Isle of Mauritius, by M. Sonnerat. Others have the under 

 parts pale yellow ; neither bill nor rump red, and no white spots on 

 the wings ; some have a tinge of red on the breast, and fore part of 

 the neck ; and the tail longer in proportion ; these are said to come 

 from the Cape of Good Hope. 



B.— Le petit Moineau du Senegal, Bvf. iv. 104. PI. enl. 230. 2. 

 White-rumped Grosbeak, Gen. Syn. iii. 153. 71. B. 



Size of the last. Bill and legs red ; through the eyes a streak of 

 the same ; throat and sides of the neck bluish white ; the rest of the 



* Instanced in the Bearded Titmouse. f Forst. Voy. p. 26. 



X To which Linnajus adds, America, & Surinam. § Thunberg's Trav. ii. p. 22. 



i| Travels in Africa, p. 373. 



