294 



ABYSSINIAN GROSBEAK. 

 (Loxia abyssinica.) 



L.Jlavo f vertice genis gula pectoreque nigris ; alis caudaquefus- 

 cis. 



Yellow Grosbeak, with the crown, cheeks, throat, and breast 

 - black ; wings and tail brown. 



Loxia abyssinica. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1. QQo.—Lath. Lid. Orn. 

 1.381.33. 



Gros-bec d'Abyssinie. Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. 3. 474. 

 Abyssinian Grosbeak. Lath. Gen. Syn. 3. 131. 31. 



The Abyssinian Grosbeak is about the size of 

 the Hawfinch : beak very stout, and black : top 

 and sides of the head, with the throat, cheeks, and 

 breast, black : irides red : upper parts of the body, 

 belly, and thighs, pale yellow, with a brow T n tinge 

 on those parts where the colours join each other : 

 scapulars blackish : quills brown : wing-coverts 

 and tail the same ; the former with grey, and the 

 latter with yellow edges : legs reddish grey. 



The nest of this bird is very singular : it is of a 

 pyramidal shape, and suspended from the ends of 

 the branches of trees : the opening is on the side 

 facing the east ; and the cavity is divided by a 

 partition down the middle ; about the centre of 

 this partition is the opening to the true nest, which 

 is situated some distance downward from the en- 

 trance, by which contrivance the bird is protected 

 from the assaults of various wild animals that seek 

 to destroy it, as well as from the rain : it is a 

 native of Abyssinia. 



