The Blaclx- faced Waxbill. 
107 
" on the ground in small flofks, generally near bushes, to whioh they 
"fly if disturbed. Their food consists almost entirely of grass-seeds. 
"They have a low, gentle, twittering note, frequently repeated, when 
"they are searching for food and also as they take flight. Towards 
"spriiie the flocks break up and they remain in pairs till the following 
" autumn." 
Description. Adult Male: Above, ashy -grey, suffused with 
crimson -maroon ; grcyev on the top of the head ; lower back and upper 
tail coverts crimson -maroon ; tail black ; the whole plumage lined with 
transverse bars, very finely on the underparts, finely on mantle and back, 
very distinctly on the top of the crown and nape, ami fairly broadly, 
so on the wings ; eyebrow, sides of face and upper throat deep black ; 
below, lower throat grey, strongly suffused with crimson ; front and sides 
of breast deep crimson-maroon ; centre of breast, abdomen and under 
tail-coverts blackish ; bill dark slatj'-grey, legs black. Total lencth 4-J- 
inches, tail 2|. 
Female. — She is a wee oit smaller than the ma\-i and 
the lines of her plumage a little less intense; the barrings of 
her plumage are neither so (Sharp nor so distinct as those of the 
male, especially on the wing; her head and beak are smaller 
and narrower than those of her mate. None of the differences 
are striking, yet quite sufficient for the observant eye to 
pick them out. 
1)1 the Aviary. I am not personally acquainted -vith 
the species under the conditions of cage-life, but, that it 
does well under such, is evidenced by the excellent condition 
in which they are placed on the show -bench from time to 
time; and I have seen most excellent specimens in friends' 
bird-rooms under this aspect. Before proceeding further, I 
am including here some notes, which in response to my request, 
my friend, Dr. Lovell-Keays, has kindly sent me of his im- 
pressions of this species, giving his experience of it in cage 
and bird -room flight, as under : — 
Fcviale : She is a wee bit smaller than the male and the lines 
of her plumage a little less intense ; the barrings of her plumage are 
neither so sharp nor so distinct as those of the male, especially on the 
wing , her head and beak are smaller and narrower than those of her 
mate. None of the differences are striking, yet quite sufficient for the 
observant eye to pick them out. 
"You ask about my experience with Black-faced Waxbills. I 
have had a few through my hands one time and another, and have found 
them rather delicate on the whole. They seldom come to hand raally 
fit and well, and appear prone to become fluffy and shuffle-off. 
" But they arc charming little birds, full of life and vivacity — 
