SHORT-TAILED CRIMSON WEAVER. 185 
finches are to he found alive in the possession of the 
lovers of birds in this country. We might surely 
preserve, and even rear them much better than 
the poor marchands des oiseaux of the dirty garrets 
in Paris. 
This is one out of three, if not four distinct 
species, confounded in our systems under the com- 
mon name of grenadier-grosbeak, or the Loxia oryx 
of the Linnsean ornithologists. 
The structure of the present species differs in 
some respects from the last ; its hill is shaped more 
like that of a Vidua, being somewhat lengthened ; 
the culmen more curved than the gonyx, and the 
commissure sinuated. This at once points out the 
intimate connexion of these two genera ; while, by 
the feet, wings, and tail, it is brought close to E. 
Capensis. The black of the under parts commences 
at the breast and terminates at the belly, leaving 
the thighs and under tail-covers, which are equally 
long with the upper, of the same rich scarlet. The 
wings are brown, all the feathers being edged with 
a lighter colour. The first quill is rather shorter 
than the second and third ; the inner wing-covers 
delicate light buff ; and the legs very pale. Tail 
brown, very short and almost even; the covers 
reaching nearly to the tips. 
Total length, 4| ; bill nearly | ; wings, 2| ; tar- 
sus, i 8 c . 
