CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
115 
compressed in tlie middle, this is bluish g'ray, and the 
same colour, only of a reddish cast, spreads over the whole 
! upper portion of the body ; the belly is black, with reddish 
white spots, and a dark purple band passes round the cheeks 
and chin; the under part of the body and rump is gray 
brown, tinged with red, and many of the larger feathers are 
edged and barred with black. The colours in the female are 
paler, and the band around the neck is wanting*. These 
birds have a note very like that of the sparrow ; they may 
I be fed on canary- seed. 
THE BROWN-CHEEKED GROSBEAK 
Is about the size of a siskin ; it has a short, thick beak, of 
a grayish brown colour; the feet are flesh-coloured; the 
cheeks brown, with yellow margins, this tint extending 
down the throat, and behind the ears : the short conical tail 
is of a dingy light green, as are also the head, back, and 
wings; the breast and belly ashy gray. The female is 
without the yellow margins to the cheeks. 
This bird is a native of Mexico ; it has a soft flute-like 
voice, and animated and agreeable manners. It should be 
kept in a cage, and fed upon canary-seed and millet, 
THE MALACCA GROSBEAK 
Is brought from the East Indies ; it is about as large as the 
greenfinch ; the back and feet are ashy gray ; the head and 
neck, and part of the belly, are black ; the back, wings, and 
tail, bright chestnut ; the breast and sides of the belly, 
white. It is a stout, handsome bird, and has a strong, shrill 
voice ; some of its notes are not unpleasant, others exceed- 
ingly harsh and disagreeable. But little seems to be known 
about its change?^ of plumage ; Bechstein says he has seen 
males which have moulted and remained the same, without 
any white on the breast or black on the belly. Edwards has 
figured what he thought to be a female oi the species, in 
which the pinion feathers and tail are black, but this may 
have been a different species. The bird thrives well upon 
hemp and canary seed, and lives long in confinement. 
