6



A. Morrison—The Genus Sporophila



References. — Buss, p. 571. Breeding Records , p. 4. Neunzig, p. 241.

Butler, p. 145.


This is one of the largest of the Sporophilse, but little is known

of its habits in a wild state, although it is said to live on the outskirts

of forests and marshes.


Eulers Finch is occasionally imported but does not appear to be

a particularly attractive bird. It nested with Buss about 1874, but

it is uncertain whether full breeding success was attained or not.

They built a large, untidy, open nest in a bush. The song is a noisy

rattling chatter interspersed with some long drawn notes and short

trills. They appear to be harmless, good-tempered birds.


Half White Finch (S. hypoleuca)


Male. —Upper surface and sides of neck, slate grey ; cheeks, throat,

and rest of under parts, white ; thighs, white, merging into grey behind ;

lesser wing coverts, slate grey ; the others, black edged with dark grey ;

bastard wing, primary coverts, and flights, black edged with pale grey ;

axillaries and under-wing coverts, white, with a blackish patch near

the wing border ; the outer webs of the base of the inner primaries

are white and form a large wing patch, in some cases extending to the

outer secondaries ; tail feathers, blackish bordered with ash grey ;

feet, grey ; irides, grey brown. The deep bill is waxy yellow, becoming

more orange in colour with old age.


Female. —Above, olive brown, paler and yellower below ; middle

of belly and under-tail coverts, whitish ; wing and tail feathers, dark

olive brown edged with olive grey ; feet, greyish flesh colour ; bill,

yellowish brown.


Habitat. —East and Central Brazil.


References. —Buss, pp. 565,685. Neunzig, p. 243. Butler, p. 144. Avic.

Mag., vol. ii, p. 56.


The Half White Finch is another large but rarely imported

Sporophila. In a wild state it inhabits open plains, where it feeds

mainly on grass seeds. It is a common cage bird in its native land,

where it is prized for its song.


I have two males at the present time and find them most charming

birds. One, which is cage moulted, is very tame and sings beautifully.



