All rights reserved. Apeil, 1914. 
BIRD NOTES: 
THE — - 
JOURNAL OF THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB 
The Black-faced Waxbill. 
{Estrilda crythronota) . 
By Wesley T. Pace. F.Z.S., etc.- 
Perhaps I had better commence by enumerating- the 
various species and races given unier the designation, Blaek- 
faced Waxbill, in Shelley's Birds of Africa, together with the 
range and differentiating plumages, from the al)()ve work : 
"The Grey Black-faced Waxbill (Estrilda nigricolJis), 
ranges from the Gold Coast into the AVhite Nile district." 
"Adults. General plumage leaden grey, rather darker above 
than beneath , rump, upper tail-coverts, and outer webs of tail-feathers 
crimson, remainder of tail black ; wings dark brown strongly washed 
with grey , narrow margin to the front of the forehead, sides of head, 
chin and upper throat, jet black ; sides of breast with some white spots, 
geuerallj' in pairs on the feathers to which they belong 
eyelids and bill pale greyish blue. Total length 4.4 inches, tail 1.8." 
Mostly known to English aviculturists as the Black- 
cheeked "Waxbill— very rare on English markets. 
"The Vinous Black-faced Waxbill [Estrilda rinacea) 
inhabits Senegambia." 
Dr. Hopkinson has described this species in Bird Notc^ 
on several occasions, and it was figured in colour in V^ol. III. 
(original series), page 117; thus description need not be given 
here. It is known to English aviculturists as the Vinaceous 
PMrefinch {Lagonostie^a vinacea) — somewhat irregular in its 
appearance on the English market and is never common. 
" Delamere's Black-faced Waxbill {Estrilda dcdameri) 
inhabits Ugogo and the Victoria Nyanza district." 
"Adults. Similar to E. crythronota, with the same amount of 
black on the throat, breast, thighs, and under tail coverts ; but differs! 
in being slightly paler, a more distinct pale marginal band behind the 
ear coverts, and the bars on the wings more sharply defined, clear 
black and white. In the two latter characters it most clearly resembles, 
