Prien bee 1. 7 
Its length, ftom the tip of the bill to the end of the tail, is fix 
inches and a quarter: the bill is thick, and of a bright yellow colour, 
but fades immediately when the bird dies; in the female it is rather 
dufky; and the head, which is of a fine grey in the male, is of a 
brownifh ruft colour, fpotted with black, in the female: indeed, the 
female is immediately diftinguifhed by the plainnefs of her plumage, 
it neither poffeffing the beautiful purple colour on the breaft, or the 
black tufts on the throat, which characterizes the male: the vent- 
feathers of the male are pale black; of the female light brown; as 
are the other parts of the belly. 
Pennant, in the Britifh Zoology, fays, “ This fpecies is found in 
the marfhes near London: we have feen it near Glouceffer: it is alfo 
frequent among the great tracts of reeds near Cowdit in Lincolnfbire, 
where I fufpect they breed. 
Latham, in his General Synopfis,—“ Thefe birds are found in 
England, but have hitherto been obferved only in marfhy fituations 
where reeds grow, on the feeds of which it feeds, as well as fmall in- 
fects; both of which have been found in their ftomachs. They are 
pretty frequent, and in not inconfiderable quantities, in the marfhes 
among the reeds between Frith and London, and are again met with 
in fuch-like places near Glouceffer, as well as among the great tracts 
of reeds near Cowdit, in Lincolnfhire. In all thefe places 1 make no 
doubt of their breeding, as I know that they ftay in the firft-named 
parts the whole year. “The neft is not known for certain ; but I have 
feen one, which was compofed of very foft downy materials, fufpended 
between three reeds drawn together, thought to be the work of that 
bird.” 
“© They are alfo common in Denmark; and Buffon fuppofes that a 
pair of thefe, having efcaped from the cage of the Counte/s of Albe- 
A 4 marley 
