AMADINA ERYTIIROCEPHALA. 
base of the bill angular, that of the lower is inverted ; space between eye and 
angle of mouth nearly bare. Wings rounded and when folded cover the 
first half of the tail ; the first quill feather is rudimentary, the third is the 
longest, the second and fourth are equal and rather shorter than the third, 
the fifth, sixth, and seventh, are successively shorter, — the difference between 
each, as well as between the fifth and fourth, about a line and a half. Tail 
graduated, the two centre feathers considerably the longest, and also the 
most pointed. Legs short and moderately robust, anteriorly scutellated, 
posteriorly entire ; toes strong, the middle one much the longest, the external 
and internal ones nearly of equal length, the hinder toe short and powerful ; 
the claws short and slightly curved. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill to 
the tip of the tail 5 6 
Length of the bill 0 5 
of the wings when folded ... 2 11 
of the tail 2 3 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of the tarsus 0 7 
of the outer toe 0 3 
of the inner toe 0 3 
of the middle toe 0 5^ 
of the hinder toe 0 2 b 
Female .— With the exception of the head, the colours are like those of the 
male, only lighter, and not so vivid ; the head in the female is of the same 
colour as the back. 
Young . — Colours similar to those of the female. 
All the examples that we saw of this species occurred in the neighbourhood of Latakoo, and in 
the situations in which we discovered them we invariably found numbers congregated together. 
The individuals which composed the flocks were generally seen feeding upon the ground near 
to the gardens of the natives, and when they were disturbed, they, according to circumstances, 
either repaired to the hedges or shrubs in the immediate neighbourhood, or to some more distant 
locality. While feeding or flying, they uttered harsh chirping sounds, and on no occasion any 
thing like a musical note. 
