199 
GLOSSY BLACK BENGALY. 
Amadim nitens , Swains. 
Entirely glossy blue-black; inner wing-eovers wihte;tbebill 
and legs, pale flesh colour ; flanks with a concealed white 
spot. 
Fringilla nitens, Linn., Vieill. Ency. Meth. p. 955 Moineau 
du Brazil, BufFon, PI. Enl. 291, 1 and 2. — Le Moineau 
Camba-jou, Vieill. Ois. Chant., pi. 21, Ency. Meth., p. 955. 
The numerous vessels which trade with the natives 
of Western Africa annually import, not only to 
Europe, but to her American colonies, a great 
number of the small singing birds of this tribe, 
which are often to be met with in the houses of 
the maritime ports of South America ; from whence, 
again, it frequently happens they are transported to 
Europe. It was probably owing to this well known 
fact, that Buffon first described the bird before us 
as a native of America, and the error was perpe- 
tuated in all succeeding systems, until pointed out 
by Yieillot, who does not appear, however, to be 
aware of the manner in which it originated. We 
lniow, from personal observation, that the Portu- 
guese colonists are very fond of these little African 
birds ; for they may be very frequently seen exposed 
for sale at the different ports of South America. 
