( *79 ) 
The Grey Finch. 
T H E upper Figure in the annexed Plate reprefents this Bird of its natural Size; drawn 
from the Life : It is much of the Size and Shape, and hath the fame Adtion with our 
Linnet, and like that, is a fine finging Bird. I fhould have named it the Grey Linnet, but 
that we have already a Bird in our Country fo called, though it be of a brown Colour. 
The Bill is of a dark Afh-Colour, fhaped like a Linnet’s Bill,, but fomething grofier in 
Proportion ; the Eyes are of a dark, or black Colour ; it hath a little Whitenefs round the 
Bafe of the lower Chap of the Bill, which Whitenefs extends itfelf under the Eyes. The 
Bread, Belly, and whole under Side, is of a very light-bluifh Afh-Colour *, the Top of the 
Head, upper Side of the Neck, and the Back, are of a dark Afh-Colour ; the Rump, and 
Coverts on the upper Side of the Tail, are of a very light Afh-Colour. The upper Sides of. 
the Wings and Tail are Dufky, inclining to Black, the Edges only of the Feathers being of a 
hght Afh-Colour; the greater Quills are wholly Dufky at their Tips, and White at their 
Bottoms, which forms a white Spot in each Wing. The Legs, Feet and Claws,, are formed as 
in other fmall Birds, all of a dark Flefh-Colour. 
*The Wax Bill. 
T H E lower Figure in the Plate reprefents this beautiful little Bird of its natural Size :• 
It hath the Middle-Feathers of the Tail longer than thofe on the Sides, which Particu¬ 
larity is not, I believe, to be found amongd fmall Birds that eat Seeds, in this Part of the World*, 
though it be common to Butcher-Birds. This Draught was taken from the living Bird. 
The Bill is of a moderate Bignefs for a hard-bill’d Bird, and of a fine red Colour, like Seal¬ 
ing-Wax, which I fuppofe gave the Bird its Name. From the Angle of the Mouth paffes a 
long red Spot, broad in the Middle, and ending in a Point about the Place of the Ear ; in the 
Middle of this Spot is placed the Eye,, which is Black. The Top of the Head, upper Side 
of the Neck, the Back, upper Sides of the Wings and Tail, are of a dark, dufkey-brown 
Colour; the Sides of the Head, beneath the red Marks, are Whitifh, and the Bread becomes 
gradually of a light Afh-Colour; the Sides of the Belly, Thighs, Coverts of the Tail, both 
above and beneath, are alfo of a light-brownifh Afh-Colour; the lower Part of the Bread, 
and Middle of the Belly, is finely dained widi a longifh red Spot, which gradually lofes itfelf 
in the brownifh Afh-Colour that borders it all round. All the brown Feathers in this Bird, on 
its upper Side, on the- Sides of the Belly, &c. are tranfverdy marked with fine Lines of a darker 
Colour, as the Figure fully exprefies. Its Toes dand, three forwards, and one backwards, as 
in mod other fmall Birds, all of a dufky Colour. 
The curious Birds above defcribed, are the Property of George Sbehocke, Elq; They were 
lent to him, with many others, from Lijbon ; and his Correfpondent there, inform’d him that 
they were brought to Lijbon from the Eafl-Indies „ I believe they have never been defcribed or 
figur’d till now. 
The Caterpillar, added by Way of Decoration, at the Bottom of the Plate, is of a dirty- 
•brownifh yellow Colour •, it is drawn of its natural Bignefs; its Rings and Shape are bed de¬ 
fcribed by the Figure. What is mod extraordinary in it is, that the four Rows of Knobs which 
rife like the Heads of fmall Brafs Nails, of a yellow Metalline-Colour, are of fuch tranfcendent 
Ludre and Brightnefs, as not to be in any Sort imitated by Art; for in my Opinion, they excel 
polifhed Gold, in the fame Degree that Gold excels Brafs. It is preferved in Spirits, and is in 
the Mufei m of Richard Mead, M. D. Phyfician in Ordinary to the King, who obliged me 
with the Lfe of it. It was fitched on the Copper immediately from Nature. 
