( W r ) . 
The Red and Blue Brasilian Finch. 
E Bird is here figured of its natural Bignefs : It is fhaped much like our fmaJI 
Singing Birds, but hath the Tail a little longer in Proportion ; the Tail is alfo 
pointed, having the Middle-Feather longer than thofe on the Sides, which fhorten 
gradually, tho’ that is very uncommon in Birds of its Genus. It is a lively, brifk, 
Singing Bird, having a very pretty Note. 
The Bill is fhaped like a Goldfinch’s, of a very fine Red, or Scarlet-Colour : The 
Feathers round the upper Part of the Bill, and the Sides of the Head, all round 
the Eyes for a good Breadth, are of a fine Purple, or Bloflom -Colour. The Eyes are 
of a dark Colour, but the Eyelids, or Skin round the Eyes, are of a fine Scarlet-Co- 
lour ; between the Bill and Eye is a dufky Line. The Throat, immediately beneath 
the Bill, is Black \ the Top of the Head, Neck, Back, Covert-Feathers of the Wings, 
Bread: and Belly, as far as the Thighs, are of a dark, dufky, red Colour \ the Quills of 
the Wings are of a blackifh or dufky Colour ; the lower Part of the Back, the Belly 
about the Vent, and the Covert-Feathers, both above and beneath the Tail, are of a 
v.ery fine blue Colour, which mixes and foftens into the Reddifh on the Back and 
Belly. The Tail is Black, the Middle-Feather pretty long, the Side-Feathers gra- 
dually become fhorter. The Legs and Feet are like thofe of other fmall Birds of this 
Clafs, of a darkifh Flefh-Colour. 
This rare, curious and undefcribed Bird, was the Property of Mrs. Scrafton> in 
Buckler's- Bury , London . My curious and worthy Friend, Dr. Monro , Sen. dire&ed 
me to take a Draught of it. It came from Brafil , where it is a fcarce Bird, and much 
valued. 
"The Flying S clu i r r e l. 
T H I S curious little Bead is here drawn of its natural Bignefs. It was drowfy and in- 
active all the Day, but when the Evening came on it was very lively, leaping (or flying 
very nimbly) from Place to Place in its Cage. The upper Side of it, from Nofe to Tail-end, 
was of a brownifh Colour, like that of a wild Rabbet : The Nofe was fhort and whitifh round 
it; the Eyes were large, Black, and Handing far out of the Head ; it had a white Mark 
above each Eye *, the under Side of the Head, Neck, the Belly and Infides of the Legs, were 
White ; the upper Side was parted from the under by loofe Skins, which ran along its Sides, 
and fpread themfelves between the fore and hinder Legs, when they are fl retched out in leap- 
ing. Thefe Skins affiflthe Animal to fkim along a great Way ; the Tail alfo was broad and 
flat like a Feather, and becomes thereby a farther AfTiftance in its Flight. It had a blackifh 
Stripe on each Side, juft above the Edge of the Skin, or Fin that runs along its Sides : It had 
four Toes on each Foot forwards, with the Rudiment of another Toe ■, the hinder Feet have 
each five diftindt Toes. The Ears were fhort and roundifh, the Flefh appearing through the 
Thinnefs of the Hair, as it did likewife about the Nofe, and on the Feet. 
Mr. Catejby has figur’d a Flying Squirrel, which I take to be of a different Species, it being 
all over of a Dun or Afh-Colour •, he fays, they leap or fly about fourfcore Yards. See his 
Hiftory of Carolina , Vol. II. P . 76, 77. They are brought to us from feveral Parts of North 
America , and have of late been difcovered in Poland. James Theobald , Efq*, of Surry ftrect , has 
the above defcribed now living. 
The 
