A71 Uncommo7i Acquisition. 
155 
an TUncoinmon Bcqiusition. 
THE PECTORAL TANAGKK. 
{Euphonia pectoralis). 
By T. H. Hadley. 
Seeing an advertisement of this bird, and not knowing the 
variety I obtained a pair upon approval, and was so taken with 
the wonderfnl condition of the plumage of the cock bird and his 
confiding ways that I immediately decided to purchase. 
A FORTUNATE RECAPTURE : Within ten minutes of arrival 
the cock bird escaped, and darted through an open door. Not 
being blessed with a garden I was in fear that, as is usual with 
with my escapes, he would at once disappear; but when I went 
outside I found him clinging to a creeper and in no way alarmed ; 
he allowed me to walk to within a foot of him before I discovered 
him, and was perfectly unconcerned. 
I at once took out the hen bird in a cage, and an 
additional cage with a banana inside. He flitted continually 
from place to place, at times getting out of sight, but always 
returning either to the creeper or aviary ; eventually he went 
into the cage and was recaptured. 
Immediately the cage door is opened he conies down, and 
is witli difficulty kept inside ; bathes continually, hence no doubt 
his wonderful condition. He is quite fearless, and constantly 
sings a very scrappy song, ending with one or two snaps of the 
beak. 
In size, he is rather larger than the Violet Tanager, and 
decidedly more slimly built; shape .somewhat curved. Bill black, 
with slate-coloured base; legs and feet black. Plumage, abso- 
lutely sleek and glossy throughout. Head, rich dark navy blue ; 
back and upper parts dark greenish blue; breast, navy blue, 
sides of breast rich saffron yellow. Abdomen and under tail- 
coverts rich copper beech, or chestnut, shade. Primaries black, 
dark bluish edges. Secondaries blue-black, edged witii olive. 
Tail blue-black, the feathers being decidedly soft and pointed. 
The hen is very similarly coloured to the hen Violet, the under 
parts being rather more j'ellow. 
