258 



BENGAL GROSBEAK. 

 (Loxia bengalensis.) 



L. grisea, pileo Jlavo, temporibus albidis, abdomine albido Jiisco 

 maculato. 



Grey Grosbeak, with the top of the head yellow, temples white ; 



abdomen whitish, with brownish spots. 

 Loxia bengalensis. Lin. Syst. Nat. 1. 305. 32. — Gmel. Syst. 



Nat. 1. 85?.— Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 382. 36. Briss. 3. Q5. 11. 

 L'Orchef. Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. 3. 466. 

 Gros-bec des Indes. Buff. PL Enl. 3Q3.f. 2. 

 Yellow-headed Indian Sparrow. Edwards. 189. 

 Bengal Grosbeak. Lath. Gen. Syn. 3. 133. 33. 



Larger than the House Sparrow: length five 

 inches and a half: beak flesh-coloured: irides 

 whitish : top of the head bright yellow : sides of 

 the head, and under parts, rufous white : upper 

 parts of the body brown, with pale edges : across 

 the breast a brown band, uniting to the same co- 

 lour on the upper parts of !:he body : legs pale 

 yellow : claws grey : female similar in colour, but 

 not so bright. 



This bird is very common in Hindostan : it is 

 very docile, and faithful, never voluntarily de- 

 serting the place where its young are hatched, 

 but not averse, like most birds, to the society of 

 mankind; it is easily taught to perch on the hand 

 of its master. It generally builds its nest on the 

 highest tree it can find, and prefers that which 

 happens to overhang a well or rivulet : it is made 

 of grass, and wove like cloth into the shape of a 



