CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
113 
lieved by the bright golden yellow of the sides^ runip^ and 
smaller wing- coverts ; the pinion feathers are dark brown, 
edged with greenish yellow, and the scapulars bright brown, 
with red gray margins. The female does not greatly differ 
from the male ; she has a little more of gray in her pkimage, 
and the male^ ofter pairing time, and after the second moult, 
is said to resemble her. The name of this bird tells us from 
whence it comes ; it has no powers of song, is easily kept in 
a cage, where it should be placed either alone or with a 
female ; its food is hemp and canary seed. 
THE CAFFRARIAN GROSBEAK 
Is a bird somewhat larger than the bullfinch, with^a tail 
twice as long as the body, which is slightly erected, and 
worn only during the pairing season. The prevailing colour 
of the plumage is a rich velvety black; the shoulders are 
blood red, the wing covers white, as are the margins of the 
brownish gray pinion feathers. The plumage of the female 
is mostly gray, with a little red upon the shoulders. The 
wale bird wears his rich dress from November until the 
spring is over, at other times he is much like the female. 
This bird is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and is 
found far inland ; it is very rarely brought to Europe. It 
requires a large cage, and may be fed on canary-seed. 
THE BLUE GROSBEAK. 
This species is about the size of the common crossbill. It 
is found in North and South America. The whole of the 
plumage is of a deep blue, excepting the larger wing-coverts, 
which, with the central tail-feathers, are dark brown ; tlie 
shoulders are slightly tinged or spotted with red, and there 
is a greenish tinge on the under side of the wings and tail. 
The female is brown, with a slight admixture of blue. This 
bird is very rarely seen in Europe. It has an agreeable song*, 
and the recommendation of great beauty : the best food ibr 
it is canary-seed. This appears to be the indigo finch of 
Wilson and other writers on American birds. 
THE AZURE GROSBEAK, 
Or, as some say, ultramarine grosbeak, has been generally 
considered as a variety of the last species 5 it is, however, 9^ 
I 
