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coverts narrowly tipped with while ; tlie quills have a patch of ochraceous 
buff near the base, the inner primaries having a second patch of same 
colour near the end of the feather ; two central tail feathers light brown, 
the remainder dark brown, the outer feathers having a wedge-shaped patch of 
•white at the to]) : a nai row ling of while feathers surrounds ihe eye, loral 
spot black, ear coverts ashy grey, tlie sides of the face are splashed with 
rusty above the eye and blackish below; cheeks and throat hoary grey; 
under surface dull asliy-grey, merging into whitish grey on the centre of 
breast and abdomen : thighs and undei tail coverts ashy brown, the latter 
broadly edged with while. Total leuglh S inches, tail 3;. 
The female is similar in plumage, but is slightly smaller and 
slighter. Townsemi's Solitaire inhabits the Middle and Pacific Provinces of 
the United Slates, but does not penetrate far into Mexico. 
The foregoing interesting account will have to suffice for the 
inauguration of ihis new feature of our Magazine, in our ne.xt issue I hope 
it will be of a more varied and miscellaneous character, and to this end 
I invite cuttings, notes, etc., from all our members; members residing, 
or having friends living abroad, can materially help us with this new 
feature, which I trust will be a permanent one. W. T. P. 
Our member, Mr. H. E Bliss, brought over a small l)ut interesting: consiginiient 01 
S.A. birds about loth Heb., iiiclucliiig some male Giant Whydahs in full colour, a true pair 
of Red-collared Wli ydahs ( KiV/«rj nrJuns), and several pairs of Pin-tailed Wliydahs and Red- 
headed Finches and a pair each of Uufresrie's and Ruddy Waxbills. Our member must 
be congratulated on a quite unusual achievement, namely, that of bringing home a pair of 
L. Diiftesni 'm quite faultless condition. The Kuddy Waxbill (Z.. rnbricata) is an interesting 
species and seldom imported, though a common bird in its own locality. It is about one- 
half larger than the Common Kirefiiicli, its body colour is brown, tail and under tail coverts 
sodeep a crimson as to look almost black, and has quite a distinctive and easily heard song 
which commences with twittering notes and ends in a prolonged trill. This species is 
found south of the Zambesi. In the Transvaal it is said to be very fond of the ripening 
berries of the Australian Pepper Tree. The only other races of the Firefinch with which it 
is likely to be confused are L. minitna : habitat West Africa, and L, brunnciceps, brown 
on head; hen profusely spotted on breast : habitat North and North West Africa, The two 
specimens imported l)y our member both sing and.are probably an adult and immature 
male. 
Mr. Bliss has cleared up one small question which has long been a puzzle to me, 
namely, why so very few hens of Cher.t procne are iinported. He tells me that the males 
take up a conspicuous position in the breeding .season on a bush (each male keeping to his 
own particular bush) and aie therefore easily limed, but the females hide themselves in the 
long grass and so escape capture. W. E. T. 
Our member, Mr. H. Robbins, has very kindly sent me for examination, one of the 
Yellow-browed Buntiugs which he recently imported. E.ch'ysopti iis is a handsome species, 
reminding one of our Knglisli Reed-bmiting in body colonr and shape, but with a tuft of 
feathers above and below the eye of the brightest chrome. This specimen has several 
